logo
Johor forges strategic pact with Japanese tech firm to build Asean digital talent hub

Johor forges strategic pact with Japanese tech firm to build Asean digital talent hub

ISKANDAR PUTER: The Johor government has taken a bold step to anchor itself as Asean's next digital powerhouse by sealing a strategic partnership with Japanese tech firm NEOJAPAN Inc today (June 19).
The MoU, inked between Invest Johor chief executive officer Natazha Harris and the Yokohama-based digital solutions provider president Akinori Saito, will pave the way for the Southeast Asian Centre of Excellence (SEA CoE) to be established in the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
Witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Japanese Economy Minister Yoji Muto and Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata, the agreement was formalised on the sidelines of the Nikkei Forum Medini Johor 2025.
The SEA CoE will serve as a regional training and innovation hub, aiming to upskill more than 1,000 local tech talent in areas such as cloud infrastructure, multilingual IT support and no-code development.
The initiative is also set to generate 300 high-skilled jobs, boosting Johor's position as a tech-driven investment destination.
"This collaboration aligns perfectly with our goal of turning Johor into a regional hub for digital excellence," Onn Hafiz said.
"By fostering innovation, talent development and strategic investments, we believe the JS-SEZ can become a catalyst for Johor's digital economy."
NEOJAPAN, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, will contribute its expertise in cloud-based platforms and digital transformation tools, including desknet's NEO, AppSuite and NEOPORT.
The partnership signals deepening Malaysia-Japan economic ties and supports Malaysia's wider digitalisation push under the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry's regional strategies.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Antimony shortage after China's export curbs leaves battery makers sweating
Antimony shortage after China's export curbs leaves battery makers sweating

New Straits Times

time37 minutes ago

  • New Straits Times

Antimony shortage after China's export curbs leaves battery makers sweating

When China restricts exports of a key mineral, sometimes the pain is sudden and even crippling — enough to spur a major outcry almost immediately. Other times, it takes longer to be felt. For the world's makers of lead-acid batteries, China's restrictions on critical mineral antimony that were put in place late last year have become a major headache — one that their customers also now have as sky-high procurement costs are passed on. "We consider it a national emergency," said Steve Christensen, executive director at the United States-based Responsible Battery Coalition, whose members include battery maker Clarios, Honda and FedEx. He noted the key role batteries played in industry and civilian life, how antimony was used in military equipment, as well as the surge in spot prices. Antimony now costs more than US$60,000 per tonne, having more than quadrupled over the past year. "There are no quick solutions... We were completely caught off guard collectively, as an industry," he said. China likely produced 60 per cent of all antimony supply in 2024, according to the US Geological Survey. Much of antimony mined in other countries is also sent to China for processing. Beijing added the mineral to its export control list last September, requiring companies to gain licences for each overseas antimony deal. It then followed up in December with an outright ban on shipments to the US — an action seen as retaliatory after Washington further restricted exports of advanced semiconductors to Chinese companies. China's global exports of antimony are now just a third of levels seen this time last year. Christensen said US companies were hugely reliant on China for their supply of antimony and buyers were increasingly having to procure from an emerging "grey market", where sellers that had stocked up on the material were charging extremely high prices. China's restrictions on antimony precede its controls on rare earths and rare earth magnets that were imposed in response to US President Donald Trump's tariffs and do not appear to have been discussed in last week's efforts to stabilise a truce in trade tensions between the two countries. Last week's talks between China and the US also did not include any agreement on specialised rare earths such as samarium needed for military applications. Lead-acid batteries, commonly found in petrol-engine vehicles, are mostly used to start the engine and to power low-voltage instruments. They are also used as sources of backup power in various industries and to store excess energy generated by solar and wind systems. Antimony is also essential to military equipment such as night vision goggles, navigation systems and ammunition. Overall antimony demand is some 230,000 to 240,000 tonnes a year with lead-acid batteries accounting for about a third of that, according to consultancy Project Blue. While many battery makers may have access to antimony-lead alloy from recycled materials, Project Blue estimates they collectively need around 10,000 tonnes a year of higher purity antimony to top up the alloy to reach the right battery properties. Securing that additional portion could be challenging. Project Blue director Nils Backeberg said there was enough antimony outside China to satisfy non-Chinese demand but buyers needed to compete with Chinese purchasers such as the country's huge solar industry, and China's smelters were able to offer better terms. "With antimony prices at nearly five times normal market conditions, the cost becomes a factor and with supply limited on the Western market, a shortage is being felt," he said. For now, it seems that battery makers' antimony woes have not yet led to cuts in output. One source at an Indian battery maker said antimony represented only a small cost of a battery and price increases were being passed onto customers, but any more price rises could spell trouble. "If the price does increase further, everyone (in the industry) will be vulnerable," said the source. In a sign that profits are being affected, India's Exide Industries blamed high prices for antimony when it logged smaller-than-expected income for its fourth quarter. Christensen said policymakers should treat the issue as one of national security, arguing that Western countries had become "overly reliant on a single geopolitical adversary for minerals foundational to both national defence and civilian life".

Malaysia Eyes Greater Global Collaboration As Guest Country Of Honour At 2025 BIBF
Malaysia Eyes Greater Global Collaboration As Guest Country Of Honour At 2025 BIBF

Barnama

time2 hours ago

  • Barnama

Malaysia Eyes Greater Global Collaboration As Guest Country Of Honour At 2025 BIBF

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's participation as the Guest Country of Honour at the 2025 Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) is expected to create greater opportunities for collaboration with various international parties. Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the number of Malaysian industry players participating in the book fair has increased consistently over the past decade. 'We hope that with the opportunity given this year, we can forge more partnerships with various parties from across the globe,' he was quoted as saying by People's Daily Online today. Wong, who is leading the Malaysian delegation at the book fair, said the Malaysian Institute of Translation and Books (ITBM) is partnering with China-based Global Tone Communication Technology (GTCOM) to develop a national-level artificial intelligence (AI)-powered translation engine. He said the collaboration between ITBM - an agency under the Education Ministry (MOE) - and GTCOM is expected to drive the advancement of AI while preserving Malaysia's cultural and linguistic heritage, and bring a positive impact to the country's translation and intellectual communities. 'This initiative will certainly facilitate multilingual communication and support inclusive education policies and the development of a highly skilled talent base, particularly in the fields of language and translation. 'The MOE will continue to support this initiative, which is set to contribute significantly to the advancement of national technology and education,' he said, adding that this effort aligns with the government's goal to enhance Malaysia's global competitiveness. Meanwhile, Malaysia's Ambassador to China Datuk Norman Muhamad, in his keynote address at the launch of the Malaysia Pavilion at BIBF, said the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) would collaborate with the National Book Council of Malaysia, Perbadanan Kota Buku and industry players to explore new opportunities, especially in digital publishing. He said this includes leveraging e-commerce, education and traditional retail platforms in China, adding that the Malaysian Embassy, through its Education Office in Beijing, is committed to supporting efforts to expand Malaysia's publishing footprint in the Chinese market.

Indonesia secures US$2.3bil foreign investment for data centre development
Indonesia secures US$2.3bil foreign investment for data centre development

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

Indonesia secures US$2.3bil foreign investment for data centre development

JAKARTA: (Bernama-Xinhua) Indonesia has secured an investment worth US$2.3 billion from the Dubai-based digital infrastructure company EDGNEX for data centre development, Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid said on Thursday (June 19), Xinhua reported. Meutya said that the investment would be used to build modern data centre infrastructure on a 12-hectare site in the Cikarang industrial area, West Java province. The initial phase of the project is targeted for completion by 2026 and will continue to develop through 2028. "The data centre is part of the backbone of Indonesia's digital transformation. The presence of EDGNEX is seen as a positive signal of the increasing trust from global investors in our country's digital ecosystem," Meutya said in an official release. According to data from the ministry, Indonesia's data centre capacity has increased to 290 megawatts (MW) since last October. The national capacity is projected to soar to 900 MW by the end of 2025. "The rapid increase in capacity indicates that Indonesia is pursuing a strategic position in the region. "The government will continue to open up extensive opportunities for new investments. Indonesia has great potential to become a major digital data hub in the Southeast Asian region," Meutya added. - Bernama-Xinhua

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store