Malaysia: New growth plan for Johor

New Straits Times 20 Jul 14;

JOHOR BARU: The state government will launch its Strategic Growth Plan for Johor at the end of the year in an effort to boost the state’s economy by attracting more investors.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the plan would focus on five key areas that could boost the economy yet would not compromise the state’s practices and traditions.

He said the state government would ensure that Johor remained competitive in the national and global arena.

“At the moment I cannot give a detailed description of the plan, as we need to wait till it is unveiled in November.

“The plan is something that can lead Johor towards a more dynamic future,” he said after the launch of the second phase of the Frontier industrial park called Frontier Industrial Park 2 in Ulu Tiram, here yesterday.

Present were State Secretary Datuk Ismail Karim, State Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Keong and WB Land Sdn Bhd managing director Woon Leng Yet.

Khaled said sustainable growth was important not only to enhance the state’s economic growth but also ensure a better quality of life for the locals.

On the Frontier project, he said it had added value that could attract more investors to come to the state.

“Investors are very selective and always want the best, such as strategic location, facilities and project advantages offered in strategic locations to invest in.

“I see the launch of the project to be a benchmark for others who want to develop an industrial park.”

Frontier Industrial Park covers 25ha and is slated for completion by end of next year. It offers investors the concept of an industrial park that is equipped with various security features such as a guarded and gated environment complemented with closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs).

He said Iskandar Malaysia secured RM9.72 billion in new investments from April to June this year, bringing a total new investments for this year to RM14.56 billion.

From 2006 until June 30 this year, he said Iskandar Malaysia secured total cumulative committed investment of RM146.2 billion.

Johor aims to be economic powerhouse
The Star 20 Jul 14;

JOHOR BARU: Johor wants to position itself as Malaysia’s economic powerhouse by continuing to lure high-technology and capital-intensive investments into the state.

Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Johor had the right eco-system and supporting factors needed to emerge as an economic powerhouse, including its strategic location at the international crossroads.

“Over the years, Johor has maintained its position as one of the top investment destinations in the country in the manufacturing segment,” he told reporters yesterday at the launch of the gated and guarded Frontier Industrial Park II project on a 25.08ha site in Desa Cemerlang here.

Mohamed Khaled said Johor had attracted RM14.4bil in investments in the manufacturing sector last year, which was the highest in the country. Of the total, RM11bil came from foreign investors.

Apart from the state’s strategic location and close proximity with Singapore, which was an added advantage in attracting investors, he said Johor also had skilled workers and good infrastructure.

“Iskandar Malaysia is another main factor that will continue to drive and spearhead economic growth and progress in the coming years,” he said.

Mohamed Khaled said Johor would be more selective in attracting domestic and foreign manufacturers to set up their operations, adding that priority would be given to capital-intensive investments.

He said that Johor was not only competing with other states in Malaysia in attracting investors but also with other countries in the region such as Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

“We will launch the Johor Strategic Growth Plan in November by focusing on five key economic sectors as the push factors,” he said.

He added that industrial building developers in Johor should keep up the practice of offering “green and clean”, gated and guarded industrial parks.