Singapore To Explore Collaboration With Malaysia, Indonesia To Boost Economic Zones -- Singapore DPM Gan

By Siti Radziah Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Singapore is exploring a tripartite collaboration with Malaysia and Indonesia to attract investors and businesses to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) as well as Batam, Bintan and Karimun (BBK) Islands. 

Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong said he held discussions with Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz and Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto to see the areas in which the three countries could collaborate in the special economic zones. 

“We are starting to explore the areas in which we can work together. If you remember, we had the idea of the SIJORI (Singapore, Johor, and Riau) concept to explore opportunities for collaboration. 

“Now we are thinking of how we can work together as three parties. When we go out for investment promotions to attract investments to this region, it is no longer about coming to Singapore and Johor but also coming to BBK,” he told reporters after attending the 26th ASEAN Economic Community Council Meeting here today. 

The JS-SEZ is a collaborative initiative between Malaysia and Singapore to boost cross-border economic growth, while the BBK in Indonesia is a special economic region where Singapore is a major investor. 

The special economic zone covers major development zones such as Iskandar Malaysia, Forest City, the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex, and Desaru, with a total land area of approximately 357,128 hectares.

The Iskandar Malaysia region also includes strategic areas such as Johor Bahru City Centre, Iskandar Puteri, Tanjung Pelepas–Tanjung Bin, Pasir Gudang, Senai–Skudai, and Sedenak.

Known as flagship zones, each area will champion projects from different vital sectors of the economy.

-- BERNAMA