Akmal Nasrullah To Meet Singapore Counterpart By End-January On JS-SEZ, Blueprint To Be Unveiled In 1Q

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Nasir said he is scheduled to meet his Singaporean counterpart by the end of this month as part of efforts to advance cooperation under the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

He said the meeting is expected to pave the way for deeper mutual understanding between both countries ahead of the planned unveiling of the JS-SEZ blueprint in the first quarter of this year.

“For the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone, definitely we plan to unveil the blueprint, insha-Allah, within the first quarter. But we are arranging for a meeting between myself and the Minister from Singapore by the end of this month,” he told reporters after attending the Majlis Amanat Menteri Ekonomi Tahun 2026 here today.

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When asked on the specific issues to be discussed under the JS-SEZ framework, Akmal Nasrullah said it would be premature to disclose details prior to the meeting.

“Wait and see, because I think it’s better for me to meet the Minister and get the understanding between both countries,” he said.

The JS-SEZ is a bilateral initiative aimed at strengthening cross-border economic integration between Malaysia and Singapore by enhancing connectivity, facilitating investments and promoting high-value industries.

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The zone is expected to focus on key sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, the digital economy, green energy, and services, while leveraging Johor’s land and workforce advantages alongside Singapore’s capital, technology, and global networks.

It forms part of Malaysia’s broader economic strategy under the 13th Malaysia Plan and complements other national initiatives including the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), with the objective of driving sustainable growth, creating quality jobs and positioning southern Malaysia as a regional economic hub.

It covers the Iskandar development area, Forest City, Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex and Desaru, with a land area of 357,128 hectares.

The Iskandar development region includes Johor Bahru City Centre, Iskandar Puteri, Tanjung Pelepas-Tanjung Bin, Pasir Gudang, Senai-Skudai and Sedenak.

-- BERNAMA