Johor-S’pore SEZ records $28b of approved projects, ministers note ‘good progress’ on various fronts

(From left) Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Malaysian Economy Minister Akmal Nasir, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat and Senior Minister of State for National Development and Transport Sun Xueling speaking to the media after a high-level bilateral meeting on Nov 2.

ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Published Nov 02, 2026, 06:00 PM

Updated Nov 02, 2026, 06:00 PM

SINGAPORE – The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) recorded RM88.83 billion (S$28.04b) of approved investments between January 2025 and June 2026, said authorities from both sides following a high-level bilateral meeting on Nov 2.

Of this figure, 45% has been implemented, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat, Malaysian Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir and Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi in a joint statement following the meeting.

The approved projects were associated with 28,755 potential employment opportunities including 12,796 jobs associated with implemented projects, the statement added.

The trio released the statement after the first meeting of the Johor-Singapore Cooperation Ministerial Committee (JSCMC) – which Chee and Akmal co-chair.

Also present at the meeting was Senior Minister of State for National Development and Transport Sun Xueling.

There has also been “good progress” on the implementation on issues including targeted investment missions and engagements, investment realisation and cross-border connectivity and talent development, the statement added.

The statement also noted progress and forward plans presented by a bilateral working committee covering infrastructure and utilities development “that is adequately planned, coordinated and aligned with the overall development plans and anticipated investment needs”.

The committee and its working groups are responsible for operationalising the JS-SEZ, whose agreement was signed in January 2025.

The zone is meant to improve cross-border connectivity of goods between neighbouring Singapore and Johor, enable the freer movement of people and strengthen the regional business ecosystem.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the institutional, regulatory and operational frameworks needed for the JS-SEZ are effectively put in place, the statement said.

It added that both countries welcomed ongoing efforts to support businesses exploring investment opportunities in the JS-SEZ, including through Singapore’s JS-SEZ Project Office and Malaysia’s Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre – Johor.

The two countries also noted Malaysia’s ongoing initiatives under its Budget 2027, tabled in October, to support the JS-SEZ, the statement said.

This includes the development of Nexus Sedenak – an integrated industrial and supply chain hub in Kulai, Johor – improved infrastructure and transport connectivity, facilitation of strategic investments and the strengthening of financial services in Forest City.

“These initiatives complement bilateral efforts to enhance the JS-SEZ’s competitiveness,” it said.

The committee also noted Singapore’s sharing on proposed areas of collaboration for transportation, the statement said, without elaborating on these areas.

It added that the two countries have agreed that the joint ministerial committee – referring to the bilateral group of ministers on the JSCMC – will be co-chaired by Malaysia’s Minister of Economy and Singapore’s Minister for National Development.

It will also include Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry and its Chief Minister of Johor, and Singapore’s Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry), and Minister for Transport.

Both sides may also propose additional representatives on the committee as required in the future, it said.

Transition reflects deeper and broader collaboration

This was the first meeting of the JSCMC, which replaced the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM).

This change, announced in 2025 after the JMCIM’s final meeting, “reflects the deepening and broadening scope of bilateral cooperation”, the statement said.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting at Gardens by the Bay, Chee described it as productive, fruitful and reflective of the strong bilateral relationship between both countries.

“Since the Johor-Singapore SEZ was formed, we have made very good progress.”

Chee said he was heartened to see that investment projects have been approved and jobs created. “This is really the beginning of many more to come.”

He added that while he is glad that many of the investors are from Singapore, there are many others from around the world.

“I think this continued strong interest from the investment community, from the business community, is the result of this strong partnership and collaboration that we have forged between Singapore and Malaysia, and between Singapore and Johor.”

Akmal added that the two countries have agreed to hold a joint investment forum by the first quarter of 2027.

“We want to keep up this good momentum, and definitely it will bring benefits to both nations, to the people, and to the business communities in these two regions.”

Chee and Akmal, flanked by Onn Hafiz and Sun, confirmed that a masterplan for the JS-SEZ is on track for release at the annual bilateral summit between Singapore and Malaysia’s top leaders.

Known as the Leaders’ Retreat, the 2026 edition – its 13th – is scheduled to be held in Malaysia in December.

Chee said both sides have been working well together to develop various initiatives to support this blueprint, which he said represents the medium-to-longer-term vision of what both sides want to achieve with the JS-SEZ.

Akmal said with the blueprint in place, both sides expect better momentum in 2027.

“Even before the blueprint, you can see the amount of the interest of investments coming in.”

Chee, in response to a question on the significance of the transition from the old ministerial committee, said the new JSCMC is a useful platform looking at a wide range of these areas, including talent development and joint promotions.

This includes how to strengthen connectivity, he said, citing the enhancements to cross-border taxi services between Singapore and Johor announced in December 2025.

The enhancements to connectivity will be further boosted when the light rail Rapid Transit System Link comes into operation in February 2026, and there are ongoing discussions on how to further enhance ferry services, he said.

Singapore-Malaysia ties

（从左至右）柔佛州首席部长翁哈菲兹·加齐、马来西亚经济部长阿克马尔·纳西尔、国家发展部长徐芳达和国家发展及交通部高级政务部长孙雪玲于11月2日举行高级别双边会晤后接受媒体采访。

圣徒照片：吴索銮

发布于2026年11月2日下午6:00

更新于2026年11月2日下午6:00

新加坡——柔佛-新加坡经济特区（JS-SEZ）在2025年1月至2026年6月期间获批投资额达888.3亿令吉（280.4亿新元），这是双方官员在11月2日举行的高级别双边会议后表示的。

国家发展部长徐芳达、马来西亚经济部长阿克马尔·纳斯鲁拉·莫哈末·纳西尔和柔佛州首席部长翁哈菲兹·加齐在会后发表的联合声明中表示，其中45%已经落实。

声明还补充说，获批的项目与 28,755 个潜在就业机会相关，其中包括与已实施项目相关的 12,796 个工作岗位。

三人是在柔佛-新加坡合作部长级委员会（JSCMC）第一次会议后发表该声明的——该委员会由谢志雄和阿克马尔共同主持。

国家发展和交通运输部高级国务部长孙雪玲也出席了会议。

声明还补充说，在有针对性的投资考察和洽谈、投资落实、跨境互联互通和人才培养等问题上也取得了“良好进展”。

声明还指出，双边工作委员会提出了涵盖基础设施和公用事业发展的进展和未来计划，“这些计划和计划经过充分规划、协调，并与总体发展计划和预期投资需求相一致”。

委员会及其工作组负责落实 JS-SEZ，该协议于 2025 年 1 月签署。

该区域旨在改善新加坡和柔佛州之间货物的跨境连通性，促进人员的自由流动，并加强区域商业生态系统。

声明称，双方重申致力于确保有效建立JS-SEZ所需的体制、监管和运营框架。

声明还补充说，两国欢迎各方继续努力支持企业探索在柔佛州经济特区的投资机会，包括通过新加坡柔佛州经济特区项目办公室和马来西亚柔佛州投资促进中心等途径。

声明还指出，两国也注意到马来西亚在10月份提交的2027年财政预算案中，正在采取一系列举措支持JS-SEZ。

这包括开发位于柔佛州古来市的综合工业和供应链中心 Nexus Sedenak，改善基础设施和交通连接，促进战略投资，并加强森林城市的金融服务。

声明称：“这些举措是对双边努力的补充，旨在提高JS-SEZ的竞争力。”

声明称，委员会还注意到新加坡就交通运输领域合作的提议表示赞同，但并未详细说明这些领域。

声明还补充说，两国已达成一致，联合部长级委员会（指JSCMC双边部长小组）将由马来西亚经济部长和新加坡国家发展部长共同主持。

出席者还将包括马来西亚投资、贸易和工业部长兼柔佛州首席部长，以及新加坡能源、贸易和工业部长兼交通部长。

声明还指出，双方未来如有需要，也可提议增加委员会代表。

转型反映了更深入、更广泛的合作

这是依斯干达特区联合部长级委员会（JMCIM）的第一次会议。

声明称，这一变化是在2025年中密委最后一次会议后宣布的，“反映了双边合作范围的深化和扩大”。

在滨海湾花园会晤结束后，徐顺全在接受记者采访时表示，此次会晤富有成效，成果丰硕，体现了两国牢固的双边关系。

“自柔佛-新加坡经济特区成立以来，我们取得了非常好的进展。”

Chee表示，看到投资项目获得批准并创造了就业机会，他感到非常欣慰。“这仅仅是众多项目即将到来之初。”

他还补充说，虽然他很高兴许多投资者来自新加坡，但也有许多投资者来自世界各地。

“我认为投资界和商界持续浓厚的兴趣，源于新加坡与马来西亚之间以及新加坡与柔佛之间建立的牢固伙伴关系与合作。”

阿克马尔补充说，两国已同意在 2027 年第一季度之前举行联合投资论坛。

“我们希望保持这种良好的势头，这肯定会给两国人民以及这两个地区的商业界带来好处。”

Chee 和 Akmal 在 Onn Hafiz 和 Sun 的陪同下证实，JS-SEZ 的总体规划正在按计划进行，将在新加坡和马来西亚最高领导人之间的年度双边峰会上发布。

这项被称为“领导人静修会”的活动，2026 年第 13 届计划于 12 月在马来西亚举行。

Chee表示，双方一直在密切合作，制定各种举措来支持这一蓝图，他表示，该蓝图代表了双方希望通过JS-SEZ实现的长期愿景。

阿克马尔表示，有了既定的蓝图，双方都期待在 2027 年取得更好的发展势头。

“甚至在蓝图出炉之前，你就能看到大量投资涌入。”

Chee在回答有关从旧部长级委员会过渡到新委员会的意义的问题时表示，新的JSCMC是一个有用的平台，可以关注包括人才发展和联合晋升在内的广泛领域。

他表示，这包括如何加强互联互通，并提到了2025年12月宣布的新加坡和柔佛之间跨境出租车服务的改进措施。

他表示，轻轨快速交通系统连接线将于 2026 年 2 月投入运营，届时交通连接将得到进一步提升；目前，各方正在讨论如何进一步改善渡轮服务。

新加坡与马来西亚的关系