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On 7 January 2025, the Malaysian and Singapore governments signed an agreement to officially form the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone or JS-SEZ envisioned to be dynamic and competitive, with a vibrant and empowered private sector, elevating the economic potential of both Malaysia and Singapore as a global hub alongside one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
JS-SEZ offers businesses and investors seamless integration into Singapore’s value chain while providing cost-effective access to rapidly expanding regional and global markets. The initiative is set to roll out 50 projects in its first five years, scaling up to a total of 100 projects within a decade. This ambitious growth strategy is projected to drive economic expansion in both Malaysia and Singapore, creating 20,000 skilled job opportunities.
Spanning 11 key economic sectors, JS-SEZ provides special incentives for industries such as Logistics, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Business Services, Digital Economy, Tourism, Food Security, Education, Health, Energy and the Green Economy.
With such a unique proposition and ambitious plan, it is not surprising that the whole of Iskandar Malaysia, together with the Pengerang municipality, has been included in JS-SEZ’s 3,588 km2 area to quickly capitalise on Iskandar Malaysia’s strong and trusted brand, robust infrastructure and excellent connectivity and ease of doing business.
JS-SEZ comprises nine flagship zones, each with its own strategic focus namely, Johor Bahru Waterfront, Iskandar Puteri, Tanjung Pelepas, Tanjung Langsat – Kong-kong, Senai-Skudai, Kulai-Sedenak, Desaru-Penawar, Forest City, and Pengerang.
The integration of Iskandar Malaysia into JS-SEZ provides immediate strategic advantages, capitalising on its established reputation as a premier investment destination. This is reflected by the value of the committed investment recorded by the end of 2024, surpassing the initial target of RM383 billion as stipulated in the Iskandar Malaysia Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP), coming from global economic powerhouses such as the United States, China, Germany, Japan, the UK and Singapore.
Key economic sectors within JS-SEZ are already off to a good start with Iskandar Malaysia having recorded Manufacturing, Financial & Business Services, Logistics, Tourism, Healthcare and Education as its top contributors since 2006 until today. The Forest City Special Financial Zone which is an integral part of Iskandar Malaysia is poised to significantly enhance the JS-SEZ’s financial services sector. This strategic development is expected to attract international investors and position the region as a competitive hub for financial innovation.
Iskandar Malaysia boasts world-class connectivity, with three international seaports and one international airport. Several infrastructure enhancements are set to further strengthen its logistics and connectivity landscape, including:
Additionally, Iskandar Malaysia is home to over 100 industrial parks developed under the managed industrial park concept, driving industrial growth and economic expansion. Prominent parks include i-Park @ Indahpura, i-Park @ Senai Airport City, i-TechValley, Tanjung Langsat Industrial Complex, Sedenak Tech Park, and Nusajaya Tech Park. These parks offer cutting-edge facilities and strategic locations, making them ideal investment destinations.
The most important game changer brought by Iskandar Malaysia to JS-SEZ is the Iskandar Malaysia Investment Service Centre (IMISC) which has been upgraded to the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre Johor (IMFC-J), a centre that facilitates and coordinates the end-to-end-investment-related process, which includes applications and approvals, investment facilitation, and aftercare and reinvestment for investments within the JS-SEZ.
To ensure seamless investment facilitation, IMFC-J is jointly led and operated by Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Invest Johor, and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA). The centre’s strength lies in its sanctioned connections with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as key private-sector entities. MIDA, as Malaysia’s leading investment promotion agency, is committed to driving investments to the JS-SEZ across key sectors to support the nation’s economic development.
JS-SEZ is transforming infrastructure development by shifting away from the conventional approach of building first and attracting investors later. Instead, infrastructure projects will be tailored to the specific needs of businesses, ensuring optimal resource allocation while fostering a business-friendly environment.
With its strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and pro-business policies, Iskandar Malaysia, and Pengerang are positioned to play a central role in JS-SEZ’s success. This initiative not only reinforces Malaysia and Singapore’s standing as global economic powerhouses but also paves the way for sustained regional growth and prosperity.
For more information on investment opportunities, visit IRDA’s website or contact at +607 233 3000 or via email at [email protected].
Disclaimer: All figures in this article are under the purview of IRDA and are for informational purposes only. For specific details regarding investments and initiatives, please refer to official IRDA communications.
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