Johor Must Lead In Orange Economy To Drive Creative Industries – Onn Hafiz

JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- Johor must position itself as a leader in the Orange Economy, encompassing creative and cultural industries such as media, design, technology and the arts, to drive innovation, high-value jobs and exports, said Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

Speaking at the ASEAN Digital Content Summit (ADCS) 2025 here today, Onn Hafiz said the state’s ambitions complement national efforts under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), which identifies the Orange Economy as a key pillar of Malaysia’s future growth.

“When we speak of the Orange Economy, we are speaking of an industry that is no longer on the margins, but at the very heart of national competitiveness,” he said in his opening speech.

Onn Hafiz said Johor is already advancing the blue and green economies through initiatives such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), but emphasised that the Orange Economy holds equally transformative potential.

He cited South Korea as a benchmark, noting that its cultural content industry is now worth over US$113 billion (RM478 billion), employs more than 600,000 people and generates exports exceeding US$12 billion (RM50.77 billion) annually.

“The global popularity of BTS (K-pop group) alone is valued at nearly US$3.7 billion (RM15.65 billion) per year and creates around 8,000 jobs,” he added.

Japan, he said, shows similar promise with its anime industry valued at US$19 billion (RM80.37 billion) and projected to double by 2028, supported by an estimated 800 million global fans.

Onn Hafiz highlighted that Asian creative content, from K-dramas and K-pop to Japanese anime, has become a mainstream global force in less than three decades, rivalling Hollywood and Europe in audiences, revenues and cultural influence.

“Despite being a relative newcomer, Asia has shown that creativity and cultural authenticity can compete—and even set new global trends,” he said.

He noted that ASEAN is emerging as a creative powerhouse, leveraging its young population, digital connectivity and rich cultural heritage to shape new growth frontiers.

Malaysia, he said, is already positioning itself as a leader in this sector, with creative industries contributing significantly to gross domestic product (GDP) and employment in film, design, gaming and digital content.

“Johor, as Malaysia’s southern gateway and a vibrant hub of talent and innovation, has every advantage to take this further. By investing in our storytellers, designers, animators and musicians, we can build a creative ecosystem that not only provides high-value jobs for our youth but also exports Johor’s identity to the world—just as Korea and Japan have done,” he said.

ADCS 2025 brings together over 3,000 industry professionals from Asia, the United States and Europe, further strengthening ASEAN’s digital ecosystem and positioning the region as a global creative powerhouse.

The three-day summit, officiated by Onn Hafiz, features more than 10 country pavilions, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Cambodia and Vietnam, 50 visionary speakers and over 100 innovative exhibitors.

-- BERNAMA