JCorp Focuses On Empowering Bumiputera Entrepreneurs To Compete Within Regional Supply Chains

By Mohd Khairi Idham Amran

JOHOR BAHRU, May 30 (Bernama) -- Johor Corporation (JCorp) is focused on empowering Bumiputera entrepreneurs to compete within regional supply chains linked to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

Its president and chief executive, Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim, said the state government-owned company provides support to Bumiputera entrepreneurs through initiatives ranging from enterprise upskilling at the Johor Skills Development Centre (Johor Skills) to procurement readiness, sectoral certification and financing support through collaborations with Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga (TEKUN), SME Corp and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA).

He emphasised that these are not standalone programmes but part of a deliberate strategy to integrate Bumiputera SMEs into high-growth sectors such as logistics, digital services, and agri-food.

“Inclusion without capability leads to dependency. We’re building businesses that can stand, scale and stay relevant in tomorrow’s economy,” he told Bernama in an interview recently.

Syed Mohamed said JCorp is also working with partners to create industry mentorship pathways and market access platforms to ensure long-term business viability, not just short-term participation.

Additionally, he said JCorp has also been planning for areas outside of JS-SEZ and the primary economic corridor to benefit from the economic development.

“We are doing so by planning from the outset for spillover, not sprawl. We plan intentionally for balanced growth, ensuring development reaches areas beyond primary corridors.

“Balanced growth requires intentional design. We don’t wait for the market to trickle as we seed development where it’s needed most,” he said.

Syed Mohamed also highlighted that JCorp is actively developing economic corridors beyond Johor’s southern belt, such as the Integrated Sustainable Palm Oil Complex (iSPOC) in Pasir Logok, a strategic agro-industrial project designed to anchor value-added downstream processing, green energy generation and job creation in a rural growth zone.

“We are also scaling Johor Skills programmes into districts such as Mersing, Segamat and Kota Tinggi, tailoring them to the industrial opportunities emerging in those areas from agro-processing to logistics and renewable energy,” he said.

He said JCorp’s land assets and planning capabilities allowed it to balance urban-industrial expansion with equitable development.

“Whether through zoning strategy, infrastructure integration or digital connectivity, we are investing beyond the JS-SEZ to ensure opportunity is not geographically constrained.

“With Johor’s transformation, we will also be unlocking spillover effects for the entire nation, driving regional resilience, attracting high-value investments and elevating Malaysia’s position in global supply chains,” he added.

-- BERNAMA