Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia and Singapore reaffirmed the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) as a key pillar of bilateral economic ties during a meeting between Malaysian Minister of Economy Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir and Singaporean Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat on January 29.
At the meeting, the two sides agreed that Johor-Singapore cooperation is a long-term partnership grounded in trust, policy continuity, and shared benefits.
They welcomed continued collaboration in high-value investments, digitalisation, sustainable development, and talent development, all of which support the JS-SEZ’s implementation.
The ministers said the initiative is moving from planning to implementation, combining Johor’s scale and resources with Singapore’s capital, technology, and global connectivity to attract high-value investments, strengthen supply chains, and create quality jobs on both sides of the Causeway.
The ministers also discussed strengthening the Johor-Singapore Cooperation Ministerial Committee (JSCMC) to provide clearer oversight and a sharper focus on economic cooperation, particularly under the JS-SEZ agenda. The final governance structure will be presented at the next JSCMC meeting in Singapore.
Malaysia is finalising the JS-SEZ Investment Blueprint and Masterplan, which will outline the long-term vision, priority sectors, key zones, and implementation roadmap, including governance, incentives, infrastructure, and talent plans. Malaysia is targeting an official launch in March 2026.
Nasir affirmed that with disciplined execution and sustained cooperation, the JS-SEZ and JSCMC will deliver tangible outcomes for businesses, workers, and communities in Malaysia and Singapore./.
The JS‑SEZ was established on January 11, 2024, and a JS‑SEZ agreement was signed between the two countries on January 7, 2025. According to The Business Times, in the first nine months of 2025, the JS‑SEZ pact locked in 68 billion MYR (17 billion USD) in approved investments, marking a staggering leap from the 48.5 billion MYR recorded for the whole of 2024.
However, Nasir noted that the greater challenge lies in how quickly authorities can turn approvals into actual projects and plans into concrete actions./.
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