2025 The Biggest Year For Johor With FDIs Coming In Through JS-SEZ

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Bernama) -- 2025 was the best year for Johor in terms of foreign direct investments (FDIs), bolstered by the successful launch of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. 

Speaking at the Asia in 2050 Conference organised by the Bank of Thailand in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he said Johor was also ranked the highest growth state in terms of FDIs.

“Why? Because we (Malaysia and Singapore) enabled that opportunity to make the addressable market much bigger and we allowed both countries to work together.

"And they (Singapore and Johor) found ways to reduce bureaucracy. They found ways to actually attract things along the way. I think the more we can grow this inter-country cooperation, both sides will get to grow. 

"And from inter-country cooperation, we grow inter-ASEAN cooperation. Then we’ll get even better and stronger together," he said at a high-level roundtable titled "Bringing Everything Together - Policy Challenges for Asia Going Forward" held in Bangkok, Thailand, today.

Amir Hamzah also said the special economic zone, which was launched more than a year ago, is a recognition of how Malaysia and Singapore “compete better together” than “compete trying to pull FDIs on its own.”

Also presenting their views at the high-level roundtable were International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dr Ekniti Nitithanprapas, and Sri Lanka's central bank governor Dr P. Nandalal Weerasinghe.

Johor recorded total investments of RM110 billion last year, the highest ever in Malaysia’s history.

In a social media post earlier, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the achievement is expected to create 24,584 new job opportunities for the people of Johor.

He said the success also reflected the transformation of the state’s economic structure, which is becoming increasingly mature and competitive.

The JS-SEZ is a cross-border economic zone aimed at strengthening economic ties and enhancing connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore.

It encompasses a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, tourism, global services and the digital economy, with a focus on attracting high-value investments and creating numerous job opportunities.

-- BERNAMA