MALAYSIA’S ambition to become a globally competitive, regionally integrated, and inclusive economy took a decisive step forward with the launch of MBW Innexus Industrial City in Forest City, Johor Bahru, on 20 July 2024.
Officiating the launch, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, described the development as a clear indicator of how national industrial strategies are converging with state-level dynamism to position Malaysia — and Johor in particular — as a strategic destination for global investment.
“This project reflects Johor’s pivotal role as a catalyst for Malaysia’s industrial transformation under NIMP 2030 and the 13th Malaysia Plan,” he said in his keynote address.
Outlining the global context, Tengku Zafrul identified three defining megatrends shaping global business strategies — the diversification of supply chains, the transformative impact of digitalisation and automation, and the centrality of ESG and sustainability to investment decisions.
“Our New Industrial Master Plan 2030 is designed to turn these trends from threats into opportunities. With it, we are pivoting from labour-intensive to high-tech, high-value industries,” he explained, highlighting sectors such as semiconductors, EVs, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and renewables.
Johor as a Strategic Industrial Hub
Zooming in on Johor’s strategic value, the Minister underscored the state’s unique advantages: its proximity to Singapore, robust infrastructure, operational competitiveness, and policy clarity — a combination that makes it ideal for nearshoring and next-generation industrial investment.
Central to this strategy is the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), which he described as “Malaysia and Singapore’s joint response to a rapidly changing global economy — a connected, resilient, and future-ready ecosystem to fuel growth for decades ahead.”
The JS-SEZ will focus on four pillars: faster cross-border trade facilitation, dual-market investment promotion, innovation ecosystem alignment, and talent mobility.
Innexus as a Benchmark Investment
Located within Flagship D of the JS-SEZ, MBW Innexus Industrial City sits in what Tengku Zafrul described as the “Golden Triangle” of industrial connectivity, linking Tanjung Langsat, Pasir Gudang, and Singapore’s Jurong.
“Land is just a physical asset — but with forward-looking policies and infrastructure, it becomes a powerful platform for long-term returns. Innexus exemplifies this,” he said.
The development will benefit not only from strategic location and JS-SEZ’s pilot policies but also from surrounding talent pools, educational institutions, and SME linkages, which are vital for supply chain resilience and innovation.
Backed by a Gross Development Value exceeding RM2 billion, Innexus is expected to generate over 37,000 jobs — a figure the Minister said “will not just be a statistic, but a reflection of expanded capacity, SME growth, and new livelihoods for Malaysians.”
Public–Private Synergy and MITI’s Role
Tengku Zafrul credited the project’s success to close coordination between the Federal Government, the State Government of Johor, and the private sector. He acknowledged Johor’s Menteri Besar, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, MB World Group’s leadership, and the support of key agencies such as MIDA, Invest Johor, IRDA, and the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre.
At the policy level, he reiterated MITI’s commitment to being “pro-business, pro-investment, and pro-industry,” and announced three immediate priorities: enhanced policy clarity through the New Investment Incentive Framework (NIIF), faster implementation timelines, and a stronger push for sustainability and inclusivity.
“Malaysia must be seen not just as a safe place to invest, but as a long-term partner for growth,” he added.
A Call to Action
Tengku Zafrul framed the launch not just as a ceremony but as a strategic signal: “Malaysia is open for business, and Johor is ready to leverage that openness to deliver real, meaningful economic value.”
He called on stakeholders to view Innexus as a benchmark for future-ready, high-impact industrial development and reminded investors that “the future is not something we wait for — it is something we curate together, starting now.”
“Malaysia is paving the way for tomorrow’s economy,” he concluded, “and shaping it in a way that uplifts workers, strengthens industries, and secures long-term prosperity for all.” - August 20, 2025
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