Singapore Deputy PM: Efforts underway to deepen ties with Johor through JS-SEZ

SINGAPORE will continue to strengthen the foundation of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) in order to maximise its economic potential, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong said at the JS-SEZ Business and Investment Forum.

Gan highlighted efforts to facilitate smoother cross-border movement between Singapore and Johor, including the simplification of clearance and customs procedures. These, he noted, will be matched by measures to enhance the business environment through more efficient approval systems, talent development initiatives, and the creation of a single point of contact for companies.

“In particular, on Singapore’s end, the Ministry for Trade and Industry, together with EnterpriseSG and Economic Development Board, have established a joint project office to support Singapore-based companies keen to expand and do more in the JS-SEZ and this will complement the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre-Johor established by Malaysia,” Bernama cited Gan saying today.

Also in attendance were Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and Johor Chief Minister Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

Gan further noted Singapore’s ambition to expand its network of economic partnerships with likeminded nations and blocs, including ASEAN, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU).

These partnerships, he explained, will help unlock new markets and supply chain routes for businesses operating in and beyond the JS-SEZ. “The JS-SEZ presents an opportunity for businesses to explore ways to strengthen their supply chain, so they can better respond to volatility and continue to grow their businesses,” he said.

Emphasising the long-standing bilateral relationship, Gan described the JS-SEZ as “a new frontier of opportunities for businesses” that builds upon decades of economic cooperation between Singapore and Malaysia.

He said businesses would benefit from the complementary strengths of the two locations, with some firms expanding operations in Johor while maintaining or developing new capabilities in Singapore.

“For example, South Korea’s SPC Group has chosen to site its halal manufacturing plant in Johor, while establishing a regional headquarters and innovation centre in Singapore that drives the research and development of new products,” he said.

Gan also expressed hope that the JS-SEZ would attract entirely new investors to the region. “We also hope that we can attract and anchor new businesses which are not yet in Singapore or Malaysia to site their new investments in the JS-SEZ,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Gan called for Malaysia and Singapore to forge even closer ties with likeminded nations, improve connectivity and the ease of doing business, and work hand in hand with private sector partners in the face of an increasingly uncertain global economic landscape.

“This way, both countries can further bridge our economies through the JS-SEZ and strengthen our supply chain, so that we can be more dynamic and resilient together and continue to create good jobs for people on both sides of the Straits,” he said. - April 21, 2025