Johor-Singapore SEZ draws Japanese investor attention
Iskandar Investment Bhd president and chief executive officer Datuk Idzham Mohd Hashim (centre) and Iskandar Regional Development Authority chief executive Datuk Noorazam Osman (right) participating in a panel discussion titled Johor Focus: Building the Future with Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone at the Nikkei Forum Medini Johor on June 18, 2025.
ISKANDAR PUTERI: Japanese investors have expressed keen interest in investing in Johor, particularly in sectors such as finance and technology.
Iskandar Regional Development Authority chief executive Datuk Noorazam Osman said while most investment enquiries in Johor come from Singapore, China, and South Korea, many Japanese companies have also been enquiring.
"I think that is the reason why they have the two-day Nikkei Forum in Medini here, where they can see the potential and understand where they can fit in.
"With the volatility happening around the world, I think they are looking at the potential of coming into a place where it can be a gateway to a new market - a regional market - which is Asean.
"For the Japanese, they are mainly looking at the digital economy, technology, as well as electrical and electronic sectors," he told the media on the sidelines of the forum on Wednesday (June 18).
Mohd Noorazam earlier engaged in a panel discussion with Iskandar Investment Bhd president and chief executive officer Datuk Idzham Mohd Hashim titled Johor Focus: Building the Future with Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
Both highlighted the potential of JS-SEZ and Johor's readiness in infrastructure and talent to support the investments.
About the forum, Idzham said there were some 800 in-person and online participants and delegates taking part in the discussions.
He added that the event marks a significant milestone in positioning Medini as a vibrant, future-forward hub for innovation, investment, and regional collaboration in Southeast Asia.
The forum, themed Driving Asia's Innovation Hub, brings together thought leaders, policymakers, corporate leaders, and investors from across Asia and beyond.
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