The Malaysian state of Johor proposes its economic and petrochemical centers inside a large special economic zone (SEZ) in cooperation with neighboring Singapore. According to a Star report, this ambitious project goals to make Johor the “Shenzhen of Southeast Asia”.
Key details of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone
- Location: The proposed zone covers Iskandar Malaysia and Pengerang on the east coast of Johor, with a complete area of 3,505 square kilometers – almost twice the scale of China’s famous Shenzhen.
- Timeline: An agreement between the 2 countries was reached in January 2024, with Malaysia aiming to finalize and sign the pact by the top of the 12 months. Formal discussions are scheduled to start in June 2024.
- Sectors: The zone will give attention to 16 economic sectors, including: electronics, manufacturing, healthcare and tourism.
What do Johor and Singapore want to realize?
The aim of this joint economic zone initiative is to remodel Johor right into a regional equivalent of Shenzhen, making the most of the geographical similarities between the areas.
Elements of the proposed zone
- Iskandar Malaysia: Established in 2006, this economic corridor covers an area of 2,217 square kilometers and includes Johor’s key infrastructure and real estate projects, including Johor Bahru City Center and Forest City.
- Moans: The area is understood for the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex, a serious petrochemical facility that features the Pengerang Energy Complex being built by Singapore’s ChemOne Holdings.
