ISKANDAR PUTERI – Johor has several projects in the pipeline to stimulate its northern region’s economic activities, especially the Pagoh Special Economic Zone (PSEZ), said a state executive committee member.
State Investment, Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Lee Ting Han said that the PSEZ – which focuses on technological developments such as the fourth industrial revolution – will serve as a catalyst for Johor’s northern region.
“It (PSEZ) also houses the Pagoh Higher Education Hub, which is Southeast Asia’s first integrated higher education center and is expected to be fully operational by 2030,” Lee said at the Johor Legislative Assembly sitting here in Bangunan Sultan Ismail today.
He was responding to a question from Ee Chin Li (Tangkak-PH) who asked about plans to attract investors into Johor’s northern districts.
Lee said other areas with planned development projects included Segamat, Tangkak, and Muar.
He added that the state government had also identified specific economic activities that were relevant to the respective districts’ potential and resources.
“The agricultural sector is a core economic activity across the three districts and, therefore, the state government has set several sustainable development targets for these regions,” he said.
“Among the visions for the northern districts are turning Muar and Segamat as dairy and beef cow hubs in Malaysia by 2030.”
He also added that Segamat will also be turned into an agriculture and agro-based industry hub with the aim of becoming an agricultural powerhouse in the next three years,” the Paloh assemblyman said.
Lee added that Invest Johor, which is the prime state government agency tasked with attracting venture capital, has been actively establishing strategic cooperation with the likes of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and the Malaysian Investment Development Board.
“Several initiatives had also been launched by Invest Johor to attract investment into the state including the Encourage Investments Mission, Johor Go Global and Friendly Johor.”
Meanwhile, responding to a supplementary question by Andrew Chen Kah Eng (Stulang-PH) on whether state agencies tasked with attracting investment have been working coherently, Lee said that they are functioning closely under Johor Investment Committee’s (JIC) coordination.
“JIC was established as the communication platform between the state government, relevant departments and agencies to coordinate all matters related to investments in Johor.” – The Vibes, December 6, 2022
