Johor Urges Local Talent Abroad To Contribute To State Economy Through JS-SEZ

JOHOR BAHRU, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- The Johor State Government is urging local talent and Malaysians working abroad to contribute to the state’s economic growth through the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone initiative, which is projected to generate more than 20,000 skilled and high-paying jobs.

State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han said the initiative should be regarded as a valuable opportunity, as it also offers a special 15 percent income tax incentive for eligible individuals working in 11 key sectors, including construction and the digital economy.

“In addition, we are developing an investment ecosystem to attract the Johor diaspora, as well as Malaysians abroad, to return and contribute to the state’s economic development,” he told reporters at the Johor Dialogue 2026 programme at Menara Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru (MBJB) here today.

Earlier, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, in his address at Johor Dialogue 2026, called on the Johor diaspora working overseas to come together and contribute to the state’s economic development.

“As Johor continues to ascend, we call on our global Johor diaspora to come home and be part of a future shaped not only by economic progress but by the collective vitality and talent of us all.

“To put it simply, in a borderless ever changing world, our future and our true wealth, lie not in resources alone, but in the strength, resilience and innovative spirit of the Bangsa Johor,” he said.

Onn Hafiz also emphasised the need for Johor’s civil servants to possess a high level of knowledge to meet the challenges posed by an increasingly complex and dynamic global environment

He said that, in this regard, the state government has launched initiatives through collaborations with higher education institutions, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Oxford University, to provide Johor civil servants with opportunities to participate in professional programmes.

“To those participating in this prestigious programme, especially Johor civil servants, I urge you to fully embrace this opportunity. Challenge your assumptions and grow into the agile, forward looking leaders that Johor and the world now demand,” he said.

Johor Dialogue 2026, organised for the first time by the state government, brought together leaders, agencies and industry players to exchange views, chart a way forward, and strengthen cooperation to drive Johor’s economic progress.

--BERNAMA