JS-SEZ, A PRIME EXAMPLE OF ASEAN'S SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE - LIEW

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) can be seen as an example to promote ASEAN's strong supply chain resilience to attract foreign direct investments, said Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong.

He emphasised that the core idea for JS-SEZ was initially for Malaysia and Singapore to have a resilient supply chain and to be able to work with multiple political leaders and major powers.

“We want to keep that and strengthen the supply chain. 

“We want to say why we would like you to invest in Malaysia or ASEAN, not because we have cheap labour but because we have a strong supply chain,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN Economic Opinion Leaders Conference: Outlook for 2025, here today. 

Modelled after China’s Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, the JS-SEZ provides tax breaks and eases the transit of goods and people between Johor and Singapore, which are separated by a 1km causeway.

The new economic zone is expected to create 20,000 skilled jobs for people on both sides of the causeway. 

Liew said global companies were seeking a robust supply chain, and the government is working to meet those challenges as they arise, based on demand and requests.

On Tuesday, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Singapore counterpart, Lawrence Wong, witnessed the signing of the JS-SEZ agreement during the 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat in Putrajaya.

-- BERNAMA