‘Medini set to be catalyst for Johor’
18 Dec 2023
Medini, which is closest to Singapore and situated on the southern side of Johor is expected to be the primary catalyst for change over the next 10 to 20 years, according to Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) president and chief executive officer Datuk Idzham Mohd Hashim.
Johor is currently the state with the highest foreign investment in Malaysia in 2022, he said.
Idzham said Medini’s status as a top investment destination for value-added investments is further enhanced by the timely creation of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), which is located 45 km from Singapore’s Changi Airport to Iskandar Puteri, thereby unlocking the much-needed economic opportunities in Johor.
With the ongoing efforts of Friendly Johor 3.0 and Johor Go Global 3.0, he said that IIB anticipates exponential growth in the coming years for GBS Medini, Tech Medini, and the M40 real estate market.
“Our recent announcement of the roadmap for the Net Zero Carbon CBD resonates with the Johor Sustainability Centre shared during the budget.
“IIB looks forward to collaborating with the recently launched Johor Sustainability Centre (JSC) at the recent Asia Pacific Climate Week. Apart from JSC, the Ibrahim International Business District (IIBD) further emphasises the need for more business hubs that serve to complement similar hubs in Johor, such as our Net Zero Carbon CBD, that are intended to push growth through foreign investments,” he said.
Idzham said the state’s continued efforts to bolster investment initiatives and regional cooperation will help the socioeconomic conditions of Johor’s citizens.
“IIB intends to give its full support in terms of providing facilities and a talent pool that cater to the specific needs of the industries that are ready to be a part of Medini,” he said.
The state government’s strategy for continuing its efforts to develop Johor’s economy for the benefit of the Bangsa Johor is outlined in the recently tabled 2024 Johor State Budget, with the theme “Driving Development and Prospering the People.”
Idzham said that Johor’s plans and initiatives to promote more home ownership through the development of affordable housing are applauded by IIB.
He said IIB aims to develop more reasonably priced housing in Iskandar Puteri as part of the Wawari Project, in line with the government’s goal of giving everyone in society the chance to own reasonably priced, high-quality homes.
The goal of this development is to give communities of all ages, lifestyles, and economic levels access to top-notch infrastructure and amenities, he said.
In keeping with ESG initiatives, Idzham said that IIB fully supports both the EV pilot program, which has a budget of RM2.5 million, and the Green Environmental Preservation Initiative, which has three stages and a total budget of RM5.3 million.
“Over at Medini, we are committed to providing more EV charging stations and maintaining around 40 per cent of green space in Medini,” he said.
Source: NST
