The JS-SEZ which encompasses an area of 3,505 sq. km., is located in the state of Johor, the southernmost state of Peninsular Malaysia which is separated from Singapore by the Straits of Johor but is linked to the latter by rail and road connections via a causeway and a bridge.
Targeted sectors of the JS-SEZ include manufacturing, logistics, digital industry, healthcare and education. Further, aerospace, medical devices, electrical and electronics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals have been identified as new priority sectors.
The JS-SEZ will have nine flagship zones, namely Johor Baru City Centre, Iskandar Puteri, Tanjung Pelepas-Tanjung Bin, Pasir Gudang, Senai-Skudai, Sedenak, Forest City, Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) and Desaru.
The Malaysia-Singapore special economic zone (SEZ) can provide significant potential for economic collaboration and integration. However, Malaysia’s structural inadequacies and ethnopolitical dynamics could hinder the country’s ability to fully leverage the SEZ.
