THE Johor state government has proposed the establishment of an ASEAN industrial park within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), aimed at attracting strategic investment from member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the envisioned industrial park would focus on high-value sectors such as advanced manufacturing, green technology and the digital economy.
“It will aim to attract strategic investments from RCEP member countries by focusing on high-value sectors such as advanced manufacturing, green technology and the digital economy,” Bernama cited him saying in his welcoming remarks at the JS-SEZ Joint Business and Investment Forum held today.
He added that the initiative is expected to drive technology transfer, enhance competitiveness and diversify supply chains across ASEAN.
“We also hope that it will offer customised incentives such as tax breaks, simplified talent mobility and temporary relaxation of fund repatriation rules to make the industrial park attractive to foreign investors,” he said.
According to Onn Hafiz, the broader objective is to stimulate economic growth and job creation within the JS-SEZ while positioning the region as a preferred destination for RCEP-aligned investments.
He noted that the JS-SEZ has already begun to drive investment into Johor. Approved investments reached RM27.4 billion in the first quarter of this year, compared to RM48.5 billion in 2024.
“(This is) a powerful early signal of the momentum behind JS-SEZ. In fact, for April 2025, there is another RM23 billion worth of projects in the pipeline,” he said.
He also highlighted the Johor government’s efforts to streamline investment processes and create a conducive business environment.
“We have streamlined our investment processes via the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre-Johor (IMFC-J). With the Johor super lane (JSL), we have introduced a fast-track mechanism that significantly reduces bureaucratic delays for priority investments,” he said.
Since its launch in February this year, the IMFC-J has received 252 investment enquiries, with 42 high-impact projects now under accelerated processing.
“What took 24 months from briefing to operations is achievable in just 13 to 14 months, a time-saving of almost 10 months. This is not just about efficiency. It is a clear signal to investors: Johor is serious, responsive and ready,” he said.
Themed “JS-SEZ: Bridging Economies, Strengthening Supply Chains”, the forum is jointly organised by Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Johor state government. With approximately 1,000 registered participants, the forum has become one of the largest platforms for fostering economic cooperation between Malaysia and Singapore. - April 21, 2025
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