Johor–Singapore SEZ Gears Up To Be ASEAN's ‘Mini Korea'
Malaysia is pushing for the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) to go beyond traditional cross-border investments, aiming to position the bilateral zone as a regional high-tech manufacturing and innovation hub with global relevance.
Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong told the Malaysia–Singapore Chinese Chambers of Commerce Business Forum that the JS-SEZ must not become 'merely a relocation of low-end manufacturing from Singapore to Johor,' but should instead serve as a platform for deep industrial integration and advanced production.
The minister's remarks signal potential investment opportunities in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, renewable energy technologies, artificial intelligence and advanced materials; areas he said are now central to global competition.
Liew said Malaysia and Singapore both maintain over 20% of GDP from manufacturing, a rare trait among semi-advanced economies, giving them a unique industrial base to leverage. He proposed a joint ecosystem capable of producing regional champions akin to Samsung, Huawei or TSMC, which could reshape Southeast Asia's role in global supply chains.
'Together, we can serve as a mini Korea in the global supply chain,' he said, pointing to collaborative value-add potential that goes beyond their geographical size.
The business case also hinges on aligning financial markets and regulations with industrial policy. Liew highlighted the need for a 'robust financial ecosystem' that supports technology investments, signalling future roles for Malaysian capital markets and regulators like the Securities Commission to back industrial growth.
His call for more strategic integration comes as firms reassess supply chains amid global uncertainty, with Malaysia and Singapore potentially benefitting from nearshoring and diversification trends.
With formal JS-SEZ agreements signed earlier this year, industry players and investors will be watching closely for follow-up policies and incentives that translate political intent into bankable cross-border projects. Related
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
Palanivel Mourned As MIC Stalwart And Indian Community Champion
KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- MIC leaders who paid their last respects to the late Datuk Seri G. Palanivel today described the former party president as an influential political figure who made significant contributions to the MIC and the development of the Indian community in the country. MIC president Tan Sri S. A. Vigneswaran said Palanivel's passing is a great loss not only to the party but also to him personally, as the late leader had played a major role in mentoring him in Malaysian politics. 'He was the chief advisor to the late Tun Samy Vellu (then MIC president), and in 2004, he was the one who proposed my name to Tun to contest in Selangor (Kota Raja parliamentary seat). bootstrap slideshow 'He also played a key role in bringing me back into active politics and assisted in my appointment as a Senator in 2014,' he told reporters at Palanivel's residence here. MIC deputy president and Tapah Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri M. Saravanan described Palanivel as a grassroots leader who began his political career as Press Secretary to Samy Vellu before rising through the party ranks to become MIC president in 2010. 'He introduced many reforms in the party, including launching various welfare programmes for Indian women such as Amanah Ikhtiar, Surya Cooperative, and others,' he said. bootstrap slideshow Former MIC president and ex-Health Minister Tan Sri Dr S. Subramaniam said Palanivel, as MIC's eighth president, served in various party and government positions, including as Deputy Minister, full Minister, and Member of Parliament for Hulu Selangor and Cameron Highlands. 'One of his firmest principles was to ensure that MIC stood on its own, free from external influences and was recognised as a strong entity in national politics,' he said. Former Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and former MIC deputy president Datuk Seri S. K. Devamany also described Palanivel's passing as a major loss to the country.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
JS-SEZ key to Johor's rise as regional innovation and investment hub
Johor Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is emerging as a cornerstone of Johor's transformation into a next-generation regional powerhouse, with the state offering a compelling value proposition to global investors in artificial intelligence (AI), data centres and high-value industries. Johor Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han said the JS-SEZ, developed in close collaboration with Malaysia's federal government and Singaporean counterparts, aims to harmonise cross-border regulations, unlock trade flows and ease talent mobility between the two countries. "This zone will make Johor even more competitive and connected,' he said during closing remarks on the first day of the Nikkei Forum Medini 2025 here today. He emphasised that Johor is not a passive recipient of federal or foreign policy, but an active agent shaping regional growth through coherent, long-term strategies rooted in clarity, consistency and capacity. At the heart of this transformation is Medini, a flagship smart city that Lee described as a "public-private innovation lab', attracting more than RM13 billion in cumulative investments to date in sectors such as healthcare, education, business services and smart infrastructure. "Medini is more than just real estate, it's a collaborative innovation platform. Now is the time to shift from dialogue to action through MoUs, pilot projects, and enduring partnerships,' he said. Lee urged policymakers and institutions to recognise that sustainable, digital nation-building depends on integrated action across technology, energy, environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks. "What we've built today reflects on the need for cross-sector coherence. Let us now move from consensus to execution,' he added. Lee noted that Johor is undergoing a fundamental shift from a traditional industrial base into a next-generation economic powerhouse, driven by policy innovation, infrastructure readiness and investor confidence. The two-day Nikkei Forum Medini 2025 forms part of broader efforts to position Johor as a regional innovation hub, supporting the JS-SEZ initiative to attract high-quality investments and integrate value chains between Malaysia and Singapore. - Bernama
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
JS-SEZ key to Johor's rise as regional innovation and investment hub
ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is emerging as a cornerstone of Johor's transformation into a next-generation regional powerhouse, with the state offering a compelling value proposition to global investors in artificial intelligence (AI), data centres and high-value industries. Johor Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han said the JS-SEZ, developed in close collaboration with Malaysia's federal government and Singaporean counterparts, aims to harmonise cross-border regulations, unlock trade flows and ease talent mobility between the two countries. 'This zone will make Johor even more competitive and connected,' he said during closing remarks on the first day of the Nikkei Forum Medini 2025 here today. He emphasised that Johor is not a passive recipient of federal or foreign policy, but an active agent shaping regional growth through coherent, long-term strategies rooted in clarity, consistency and capacity. At the heart of this transformation is Medini, a flagship smart city that Lee described as a 'public-private innovation lab', attracting more than RM13 billion in cumulative investments to date in sectors such as healthcare, education, business services and smart infrastructure. 'Medini is more than just real estate, it's a collaborative innovation platform. Now is the time to shift from dialogue to action through MoUs, pilot projects, and enduring partnerships,' he said. Lee urged policymakers and institutions to recognise that sustainable, digital nation-building depends on integrated action across technology, energy, environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks. 'What we've built today reflects on the need for cross-sector coherence. Let us now move from consensus to execution,' he added. Lee noted that Johor is undergoing a fundamental shift from a traditional industrial base into a next-generation economic powerhouse, driven by policy innovation, infrastructure readiness and investor confidence. The two-day Nikkei Forum Medini 2025 forms part of broader efforts to position Johor as a regional innovation hub, supporting the JS-SEZ initiative to attract high-quality investments and integrate value chains between Malaysia and Singapore.
