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On the talent front, MITI will work with the Ministry of Human Resources to support talent development aligned with NIMP 2030, particularly in sectors such as AI, EVs, and semiconductors.
Last week, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim began the reading of the fourth Madani Budget (Belanjawan 2026), unveiling several key initiatives aimed at supporting business leaders and employers.
Among the highlights was an RM200mn allocation to the Strategic Co-Investment Fund (CoSIF), to support co-investments in high-impact projects led by Malaysian SMEs within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) announced on 14 October that these measures are part of a broader strategy to accelerate development and investment in the JS-SEZ, positioning it as a regional growth engine that strengthens ASEAN’s resilience against global trade challenges, including reciprocal tariff issues.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Zafrul Aziz, during the 2nd JS-SEZ Joint Investment Forum, this time hosted by Singapore’s Ministry of Trade & Industry, in Singapore.
During his speech, he outlined three key measures introduced by MITI to streamline the approval process and attract high-impact, high-technology investments into the JS-SEZ.
Talent
On talent, Tengku Zafrul shared that MITI will begin working closely with the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR), to support talent development aligned with New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), particularly in sectors such as AI, EVs and semiconductors, all of which also support the JS-SEZ’s industrial ambitions.
As for enhancing the investor’s journey, under the Investor Pass initiative led by MIDA, eligible foreign investors can now enjoy a Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) valid for up to 12 months via the Xpats Gateway platform, launched in April 2025, and open to new, existing, and potential investors across all sectors. Furthermore, MIDA is also proactively offering the Investor Pass directly to eligible multinational companies and prospective investors in high-value sectors, including E&E, and those qualifying under the Family Office incentive approved by the Securities Commission of Malaysia.
Financing
In terms of financing, Tengku Zafrul also announced that under NIMP 2030, the CoSIF will be leveraged as a key financing instrument for industrial growth in the Zone. With Budget 2026’s additional allocation to CoSIF, funding can be made available for co-investments in high-impact projects by Malaysian SMEs in the JS-SEZ, with a new, improved matching/risk-sharing ratio and financing rate that encourages better investment leverage.
CoSIF is also aimed at enabling SMEs to scale up and go global, particularly in areas such as capacity expansion, tech adoption, and sustainability. Furthermore, MITI will look into repackaging the Malaysia-Singapore Business Development Fund (MSBDF), to align the fund’s scope with the identified economic sectors of the JS-SEZ.
All these will enable more SMEs – particularly those looking to expand regionally – to benefit from joint business development opportunities.
Fast-Track Manufacturing License (ML)
Lastly, the Fast-Track Manufacturing License (ML), where all manufacturing projects for non-sensitive industries within the JS-SEZ’s identified economic sectors, will receive ML approval within seven working days. Related to this, the Johor State Government’s No Objection Letter (NOL) will also be processed and issued within the same seven-day timeframe, providing enhanced regulatory certainty.
"The JS-SEZ exemplifies how bilateral complementarities can be harnessed for shared prosperity and regional resilience. By aligning strengths across borders — Malaysia’s industrial depth with Singapore’s global connectivity — we’re building a win-win platform for innovation, investment, and inclusive growth. This is not just economic cooperation; it’s a blueprint for future-ready integration within ASEAN," Tengku Zafrul shared.
In a separate Facebook post, Tengku Zafrul commented:
"We not only want JS-SEZ to be a new economic zone, but also a regional growth engine built on a foundation of resilience and diversity."
Lead image / Tengku Zafrul Facebook
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