KUALA LUMPUR: OCBC and Bank of Ningbo have partnered with the Johor state government, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Invest Johor and the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) to promote the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) in Beijing, China.
The high-level Johor government delegation, led by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, marked its first official visit to Beijing since the establishment of the JS-SEZ.
About 100 participants, including senior representatives from leading Chinese corporates and enterprises, attended the exclusive investment dialogue themed “Unlocking Business Opportunities in the JS-SEZ.
The companies represented industries such as power, utilities, oil and gas, and telecommunications. Among them were China Communications Construction Company and China Energy Engineering Corp.
At the dialogue, Onn Hafiz and senior officials shared insights into Johor’s economic direction, trade priorities and cross-border growth strategies, and engaged directly with attendees.
He expressed optimism about the dialogue, saying it marked an important step in strengthening economic ties between Johor and China, and that the state was encouraged by the strong interest shown by Chinese enterprises in the JS-SEZ.
“It is a strategic platform built on cross-border connectivity, industrial depth and a pro-business ecosystem, supporting high-value sectors such as technology, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, energy, logistics and aerospace.
“These investments create quality jobs, enable knowledge transfer, and deliver long-term value for the people of Johor. Investing in JS-SEZ is not only about Johor but also about gaining strategic access to Asean.
“The Johor State Government remains fully committed to facilitating investments and partnering closely to ensure their success,” he said in a statement.
OCBC Malaysia chief executive officer Tan Chor Sen said that Johor has led Malaysia’s investment landscape by securing RM91.1 billion in approved investments in the first nine months of the year – the highest in the country.
He said this outstanding achievement reflects strong investor confidence in the potential of JS-SEZ.
“OCBC is honoured to co-host this significant event to attract even more investment into the zone. By leveraging our robust presence in Greater China, Singapore, and Johor, along with the extensive ecosystem network and diverse financial capabilities of the OCBC Group, we are well-positioned to provide comprehensive support to Chinese companies seeking to invest in JS-SEZ.
“Since 2024, we have committed RM15 billion in financing to businesses in Johor, supporting investments and operations across sectors. We are seeing strong interest in data centres, manufacturing, healthcare, education, property, and retail,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
