Iskandar Malaysia Records RM525.26 Bln In Investments, Shifts Toward High-value Growth
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Iskandar Malaysia is now focusing on high-value investments and strengthening the regional economic ecosystem after recording total investments of RM525.26 billion since its establishment 20 years ago.
Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) said that amount surpassed the original RM383 billion target, and the region’s development has also created over a million jobs and more than doubled average household income during that period.
“For the next development phase, emphasis will be placed on increasing productivity and high-value economic activity, including advanced manufacturing, digital and data-driven industries, logistics, as well as financial and business services,” it said in a statement.
IRDA said its efforts aim to ensure investment benefits are retained in the local economy through domestic supply chains, technology transfer, innovation, and strengthening Malaysian enterprises.
In the same statement, Deputy Prime Minister II and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, said the Johor-Singapore Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) provides important opportunities to deepen regional economic integration and attract high-value investments.
JS-SEZ recorded RM76.98 billion in approved investments in 2025, further strengthening Johor’s potential as a complementary economic partner to Singapore.
“The next phase should be assessed not only by the total investment attracted but also by the quality of opportunities created, the strength of the economic ecosystem, and the long-term benefits that businesses and communities can enjoy,” he said.
Earlier, Fadillah chaired the 36th IRDA meeting on behalf of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, together with Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
Meanwhile, IRDA said the increasingly complex competition for investments in ASEAN means cost factors and land availability alone are no longer sufficient to guarantee competitiveness.
It said investors now also evaluate infrastructure availability, energy supply, skilled labour, digital connectivity, the efficiency of moving goods and people, and access to regional markets.
“In this context, Johor has the opportunity to combine advantages in land, industrial capacity, talent, and cost with Singapore’s strengths in capital, technology, business services, and access to international markets.
“However, realising the JS-SEZ potential requires alignment in infrastructure development, energy supply, talent development, customs and immigration processes, and cross-border connectivity,” it said.
IRDA added that cooperation among the federal and state governments, industry players, and stakeholders is needed to ensure that JS-SEZ grows as a regional economic platform capable of strengthening Johor’s position in the global value chain.
-- BERNAMA