Putrajaya, Johor gov’t to convene on Feb 28 to advance Johor-S’pore SEZ

IN a bid to propel the proposed Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) forward, representatives from the federal and Johor governments are slated to convene on Feb 28, announced government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil.

Fahmi outlined that the upcoming meeting would delve into a spectrum of matters concerning various ministries, encompassing transport, home affairs, economy, and finance.

Highlighting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s stress on the imperative of comprehensive coordination in establishing the SEZ.

“We hope we can resolve issues to expedite the setting up of this zone,” he told reporters after attending the Cabinet meeting.

The groundwork for the Johor-Singapore SEZ was laid in January when Malaysia and Singapore inked a MOU (memorandum of understanding) to undertake its development.

The genesis of this initiative traces back to a proposal by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli following discussions with the Johor government in May the preceding year. Subsequently, both nations resolved to establish a special task force to delve into the SEZ’s feasibility and implementation two months later.

Anticipated to catalyse the business landscapes of the Iskandar Malaysia region and Singapore alike, the SEZ aims to bolster sectors such as electronics, financial services, business-related services, and healthcare.

Moreover, Johor’s prowess in attracting foreign investments was underscored with the state securing RM70.6 bil in investments across diverse sectors last year.

Notably, Singapore emerged as the state’s second-largest foreign investor contributing approximately 70% of Johor’s total foreign direct investment in the manufacturing sector. – Feb 21, 2024

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