Johor-Singapore SEZ could draw more tech giant interest as Middle East data centre attacks prompt rethink

[KUALA LUMPUR] The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) could draw fresh attention as a potential node for global cloud infrastructure, as drone strikes on data centres in the Middle East make tech giants think about diversifying into regions such as South-east Asia.

Sarah Jane Mahmud, senior industry analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, told The Business Times: “Early investment flows suggest that South-east Asia is already benefiting from these shifts, with the JS-SEZ attracting substantial capital and a growing pipeline of data centre projects that position it as a preferred node in global cloud infrastructure planning.”

She added that global tech firms are closely reviewing their exposure to the Middle East as geopolitical risks rise, with employee safety, business continuity and supply chain resilience now central to location decisions.