Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone: opportunities and hotspots
[KUALA LUMPUR] THE Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is a Malaysia-Singapore collaboration to drive connectivity and investments, attract multinationals and navigate global trade shifts.
Location: Covers 3,571.3 sq km across six districts
The proposed SEZ, four times the size of Singapore, covers six districts – Johor Bahru (JB), Iskandar Puteri, Pasir Gudang, Pontian, Kulai and Kota Tinggi.
The Malaysian government has outlined nine flagship zones based on their strengths and potentials to drive growth. These zones include:
Zone A: Johor Bahru
Zone B: Iskandar Puteri
Zone C: Tanjung Pelepas and Tanjung Bin
Zone D: Pasir Gudang
Zone E: Senai–Skudai
Zone F: Sedenak
Zone G: Forest City
Zone H: Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC)
Zone I: Desaru
The JS-SEZ is essentially an expanded version of the Iskandar Malaysia Economic Region, with 6 out of the 9 flagship zones already being part of Iskandar Malaysia, which spans 2,284.8 sq km.
The new zones added to the JS-SEZ:
- Forest City
- Pengerang, in particularly Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex - Desaru
The new priority sectors under JS-SEZ include:
- Aerospace
- Electrical and electronics
- Chemical
- Medical devices
- Pharmaceutical
Exploring the unique strengths of the nine zones in JS-SEZ
Zone A: Johor Bahru City Centre, a vibrant urban hub
Key areas:
- JB City Centre
- Larkin
- Tebrau
- Ulu Tiram
- Bandar Dato Onn
- Kempas
- Tampoi
- Taman Johor Jaya
- Permas Jaya
- Part of Taman Rinting.
Population: ~1.1 million residents
Key business hubs:
- JB City Centre
- Tampoi
- Skudai
- Taman Mount Austin
- Bukit Indah
- Permas Jaya
- Johor Jaya
Focus sectors:
- Business services
- Digital economy
- Healthcare
Zone B: Iskandar Puteri (formerly known as Nusajaya), a dynamic growth zone
Key areas:
- Lima Kedai
- Gelang Patah
- Kangkar Pulai
- Iskandar Puteri
- Ulu Choh
Population: ~525,351 residents
Key landmarks:
- Kota Iskandar (Johor State Administration Centre)
- EduCity@Iskandar
- Medini Iskandar Malaysia
- Legoland Malaysia
- Puteri Harbour
Focus sectors:
- Manufacturing
- Business services
- Healthcare
- Digital economy
- Education
- Tourism
Zone C: Tanjung Pelepas and Tanjung Bin, port and power plant hub
Key areas:
- Port of Tanjung Pelepas (third largest port in South-east Asia)
- Tanjung Bin Energy Power Plant
Focus sectors:
- Manufacturing
- Energy
- Logistics
Zone D: Pasir Gudang, industrial powerhouse
Key areas:
- Pasir Gudang
- Masai
- Kota Masai
Population: ~535,000 residents
Key industries:
- Transportation and logistics
- Shipbuilding
- Petrochemicals
- Heavy industries
Key economic hubs:
- Pasir Gudang Industrial Area
- Pasir Gudang Port
- Pasir Gudang Ferry Terminal
- Johor Port
Focus sectors:
- Manufacturing
- Energy
- Logistics
Zone E: Senai - Skudai, logistics and tourism hub
Key areas:
- Senai
- Kulai
- Bukit Batu
Population: ~330,000 residents
Key landmarks:
- Senai International Airport
- Johor Premium Outlets
Focus sectors:
- Manufacturing
- Digital economy
- Education
- Logistics
- Tourism
Zone F: Sedenak, up and coming data centre hub
Key areas:
- Kulai
- Sedenak Tech Park
Key features:
Located in Kulai district, a renowned town for oil palm plantations, Sedenak is strategically located at the gateway to the south.
Focus sectors:
- Manufacturing
- Digital economy
- Business services
- Education
- Energy
- Food security
- Health
- Logistics
- Tourism
Zone G: Forest City, Special Financial Zone
Key feature: A special financial zone offering investor-friendly incentives, including a 0 per cent tax rate for family offices and a duty-free zone, driving global interest.
Focus sectors:
- Financial services
Zone H: Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC), regional oil and gas hub
Key feature: Located in Pengerang, which has a land area of 1,286 sq km, PIPC is Malaysia’s largest refining and petrochemical complex. It covers an extensive area of 8,093 hectares and is expected to be a regional oil and gas hub.
Focus sectors:
- Manufacturing
- Energy
- Logistics
Zone I: Desaru, of beaches and agriculture
Key features: Located in Kota Tinggi district - historically the river capital of the Johor-Riau kingdom - Desaru is now a thriving hub for agriculture and tourism.
Key economic activities:
- Agriculture: 60 per cent of the land is dedicated to agriculture, supporting various crops.
- Ecotourism: Desaru is being developed into an integrated 1,578-hectare tourism area.
Focus sectors:
- Education
- Food security
- Health
- Tourism
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