JS-SEZ to foster collaboration between Johor and Singapore for global investments

SINGAPORE: The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) will enable Johor and Singapore to build on each other's complementary strengths to better compete for global investments together, the republic's Parliament was told today.

Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan said these investments could come from a range of sectors, including manufacturing, transport and logistics, the digital economy, and energy.

"The JS-SEZ offers twinning opportunities for businesses to establish complementary operations in Johor. Businesses can tap into Singapore's offerings as a tech business and a financial hub while also using Johor's land and resource advantages.

"Secondly, the SEZ can serve as a gateway for Singapore businesses to better serve their clients in Malaysia," he said, adding that businesses can look forward to moving both goods and talent across the border in a shorter time, which will enhance operational efficiency.

He was responding to Nominated Member of Parliament Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant's questions on the sectors in Johor that Malaysia and Singapore's business owners can collaborate on in the JS-SEZ and Singapore's concerns about the infrastructural and operational issues in that economic zone.

Tan said the ministry raised issues highlighted by Singapore businesses via the Singapore Business Federation's report released in July 2024 in its discussions with the Malaysian government.

"Businesses surveyed on the JS-SEZ expressed a desire to see operational and infrastructural improvements that would enhance investment facilitation, labour availability, and the cross-border movement of goods and people.

"We have prioritised these issues in our discussions with the Malaysian government," he said.

-- BERNAMA