THE Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) has quickly emerged as a key magnet for investors, with nearly 90 per cent of Johor’s RM27.4 billion in new investments for the first quarter of 2025 flowing directly into the cross-border economic zone.
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the JS-SEZ must continue to attract the right kind of investments — those that help diversify the supply chain and bolster national supply chain resilience and security.
“Johor, Malaysia, and Singapore have complementary strengths, and this is what JS-SEZ is all about,” he said, speaking at a panel session titled Fostering Business Expansion, Transforming Talent and Tech during the JS-SEZ Joint Business and Investment Forum.
Tengku Zafrul stressed the vital role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the growth of the special economic zone, noting that SMEs stand to benefit significantly from spillover effects.
“We are also focusing on ensuring that as much spillover as possible is achieved and that SMEs benefit from it. This is one of the agendas we want to push forward, and we will monitor it closely,” he said.
He emphasised that SMEs can integrate into the broader JS-SEZ supply chain by supporting both multinational and local firms based in Johor, and by tapping into opportunities from the Singaporean side of the zone.
“We want to see JS-SEZ growing, but that growth must be inclusive,” he added, noting that the government aims to enable SMEs to access broader ASEAN markets.
Tengku Zafrul also highlighted Malaysia’s economic priorities as the current ASEAN chair, including efforts to upgrade the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and encourage greater participation from SMEs and micro-enterprises.
“JS-SEZ is an area or base where you have access to great logistics to support your exports to the ASEAN markets,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Tengku Zafrul witnessed the exchange of two memoranda of understanding (MoUs). The first, between Tanjung Langsat Port (TLP) and Pertamina Energy Terminal (PET), targets an annual trading volume of three million tonnes within the JS-SEZ.
The second MoU, signed between Maybank Islamic Bhd, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank), and Perbadanan Usahawan Johor Sdn Bhd, seeks to strengthen the local micro-SME ecosystem in line with JS-SEZ’s strategic objectives.
Also in attendance at the forum were Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Gan Kim Yong. - April 21, 2025
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