JOHOR BAHRU, June 11 (Bernama) -- More than 100 international participants from Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Europe, and ASEAN member states have confirmed their attendance at the Nikkei Forum Medini Johor 2025, scheduled to take place from June 18 to 19.
Invest Johor chief executive officer Natazha Hariss said the forum, themed “Driving Asia’s Innovation Hub”, is co-organised by Nikkei Inc. and Iskandar Investment Bhd, and will be held in Medini, Iskandar Puteri.
He said the forum will convene corporate leaders, industry captains and regional investors.
“The hosting of this forum in Johor reflects international investors’ confidence in Johor’s potential as a new economic growth hub and offers global exposure to investment opportunities in Medini and the surrounding Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ),” he told Bernama.
Natazha said key topics to be discussed during the forum include the transition to green energy and renewable investments, smart cities and digital infrastructure, talent development for innovation-driven economies, and regional cooperation under the JS-SEZ.
In addition to strengthening Malaysia-Japan bilateral relations, the forum is expected to attract high-impact investments in clean energy, technology, logistics and healthcare, further reinforcing Johor’s business and investment ecosystem.
He said this marks the first time the prestigious forum is being held in Medini, a key development zone within Iskandar Malaysia that is equipped with modern infrastructure and world-class facilities.
Medini is also the central location for the implementation of the JS-SEZ and the new Central Business District (CBD) for Johor Bahru, positioning it as a strategic symbol of Johor-Singapore cross-border cooperation.
Meanwhile, Johor state investment, trade, consumer affairs and human resources committee chairman Lee Ting Han said the forum would help sustain momentum in advancing the JS-SEZ, which is now on the verge of its initial implementation phase.
He said the international platform provided by the Nikkei Forum not only showcases infrastructure and policy readiness, but also sends a strong signal that the JS-SEZ will serve as a world-class investment platform.
“The presence of corporate leaders, investors and policymakers reflects confidence in the Johor-Singapore approach to building a cross-border economic ecosystem that is not only competitive but responsive to global shifts.
“The JS-SEZ is a new model of bilateral cooperation that can shorten investment cycles, accelerate supply chain integration, and open up new markets for investors seeking to leverage the strengths of both Malaysia and Singapore,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to attend the forum.
-- BERNAMA
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