Iskandar Malaysia: A Strong and Sustainable Metropolis of International Standing

Established in 2006, Iskandar Malaysia is the first economic region established in Malaysia and has experienced rapid growth since its inception. It leverages its strategic position within Johor, Malaysia’s southernmost state, which boasts abundant land, natural resources, and a strong, sustainable living environment.

Guided by The Comprehensive Development Plan (CDPiii) 2022 – 2030, Iskandar Malaysia continues to focus on resilience and inclusiveness with four (4) key areas; High-Value Economy, Productive Society, Climate Resilience and Carbon Neutral Region, and Integrated and Liveable City.

Its generous land area, strategic location and well-developed infrastructure support nine (9) promoted sectors which are:

• Electrical and electronics (E&E),
• Petrochemical and oleochemical,
• Food and agro-processing,
• Logistics,
• Tourism,
• Creative industries,
• Healthcare services,
• Education services, and
• Financial and business services.

The region is home to many international and multi-national brands, a testament to its attractiveness as an economic corridor.

Iskandar Malaysia also boasts 107 industrial parks and is well-connected logistically with Senai International Airport and three (3) international seaports: Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Johor Port and Port of Tanjung Langsat.

From 2006 to December 2023, Iskandar Malaysia recorded a total cumulative investment of RM413.1 billion, surpassing the RM383 billion target set for the end of 2025. Out of this, RM291.4 billion, or 70%, has been realised¹.

Top foreign investors include People’s Republic of China, Singapore, the Netherlands, Japan, the USA and Republic of Korea with total investment reaching RM186.2 billion from 2006 to December 2023.

In collaboration with Federal and State agencies, Iskandar Malaysia aims to achieve an RM636 billion investment target by 2030. To achieve this, the region focused on nurturing high-value and innovation-driven sectors like E&E, aerospace, medical devices, modern farming, electric vehicles (EV), renewable energy (RE) and information and communication technologies (ICT) which include artificial intelligence (AI) data centres and related industries like healthcare and life sciences, financial and business services and digital creative industry. This aligns with national aspirations outlined in the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP) and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).

Iskandar Malaysia is proposed to be part of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). The Special Financial Zone in Forest City is also located within Iskandar Malaysia area.

Investing in Iskandar Malaysia is streamlined through the Iskandar Malaysia Investment Service Centre (IMISC), an integral part of the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre Johor’s (IMFC-J) operation, focusing on investments in the JS-SEZ.

IMISC is a centre that coordinates and facilitates investment-related services, ensuring investments in Iskandar Malaysia are realised quickly and efficiently.

Operating under the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), IMISC’s strength lies in its connections with various federal and Johor state agencies. Through these relationships, investors can engage solely with IMISC for all their investment needs.

IMISC services are divided into four areas – Investment Facilitation, Land and Development, Expatriate Services and Investment Incentives.

IRDA is a Malaysian Federal Government statutory body responsible for coordinating stakeholders in the public and private sectors for planning, facilitating and positioning Iskandar Malaysia’s development.

IRDA complements the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and Invest Johor by facilitating incoming investments through IMISC. It also advises and facilitates the implementation of social and environmental initiatives by investors and other stakeholders.

IRDA is currently under the purview of the Ministry of Economy, with its Members of Authority (MoA) co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Chief Minister of Johor.

Invest, work, live and play in Iskandar Malaysia. We welcome you with Malaysian hospitality and a business-friendly environment.

 
 
¹The data presented is directly sourced from IRDA and employs their established methodology.