01/07/2026 01:35 PM

JS-SEZ To Benefit From Collaboration With Italy, European Partners - Akmal Nasrullah

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 (Bernama) -- Collaboration with Italy and other European partners will play an important role in supporting the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), said Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.

He said the partnership will focus on areas such as skills development, industrial training, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, research, and university-industry partnerships.

“Investment should not be measured only by land use, production output or capital committed, but also by the knowledge, skills and opportunities it creates for our people.

"These partnerships can give young Malaysians direct exposure to world-class technologies and build the capabilities needed to become engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs and future leaders," he said in his speech before officiating the JS-SEZ Executive Forum 2026 here today.

Akmal Nasrullah said there is also room to expand cooperation in technology transfer, innovation ecosystems, standards, sustainability practices, and digital transformation, so that investment in JS-SEZ delivers stronger industrial capabilities and long-term, sustainable growth.

He said that in a more complex global environment, collaboration matters more than ever; hence, the economies that succeed will be those that build trusted partnerships, connect innovation ecosystems, and create resilient networks of growth.

"This is why the partnership between Malaysia, Singapore, Italy and the broader European business community is so important," he said.

Akmal Nasrullah noted that many companies across the European Union are recognised for their excellence in advanced manufacturing, engineering, automation, sustainability, industrial design and innovation -- areas in which the JS-SEZ can serve as a significant platform for future growth.

“We see strong potential in semiconductors and electronics, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies, green energy, sustainable infrastructure, logistics, smart mobility and other high-value sectors.

“These opportunities are part of a wider regional shift. Supply chains are becoming more diversified. Industries are becoming more technology-driven. Businesses are looking for trusted partners in Asia,” he said.

Meanwhile, Italian Ambassador to Malaysia, Raffaele Langella, said Italy is looking beyond the volume of investments in the JS-SEZ, placing greater emphasis on high-quality projects that can meet the needs of Italian companies and enable them to integrate into a broader industrial ecosystem.

“We have quite a number of companies in the logistics and oil and gas sectors, as well as in training for high-technology industries, which is an area where we are investing heavily.

“I believe a delegation from one of these companies will soon seek to visit the special economic zones. We are currently working on this, and the number of Italian companies directly investing in such initiatives continues to grow every day,” he told a press conference at the forum today.

The JS-SEZ Executive Forum 2026 brought more than 250 policymakers, business leaders, investors and industry stakeholders to explore the Malaysia-Singapore economic corridor as a strategic gateway for European companies expanding into ASEAN.

Organised by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) in its role as a key facilitation agency for JS-SEZ, the forum reinforced IRDA’s commitment to accelerating investments, facilitating business matching and fostering strategic industrial collaboration within the cross-border economic ecosystem.

-- BERNAMA

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