JOHOR BARU: Investors planning to invest in Johor are not looking only for business-friendly state government but also other factors such good infrastructure, connectivity, utilities and a conducive environment.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the popularity of gated and guarded concept at housing estates had prompted developers involved in industrial parks to introduce the concept in their projects.
“Gone are the days where our industrial parks and factory buildings look dull or monotonous,’’ he told reporters at the unveiling of the RM1.3bil i-Park @ Senai Aiport City project here.
The industrial park project on a 74.48ha site is a joint-venture between the Johor-based AME Development and Fuji Plates Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Singapore-listed Fuji Offset Plates Manufacturing Ltd.
The i-Park @ Senai Airport City is AME’s third industrial park in Johor – the first is i-Park @ Indahpura in Kulai and the second is i-Park @ SiLC in Iskandar Puteri.
“Monetary is not the main issue for manufacturers planning to invest in Johor as they are willing to fork out from RM10mil to RM100mil to set up their manufacturing facilities,’’ said Khaled.
He said the face of industrial park in Johor especially in Iskandar Malaysia has evolved in recent years with the introduction of a new generation of developments.
Khaled said apart from the modern and contemporary façade, more and more industrial parks were being developed based on the clean-and-green concept.
He said that this was in tandem with the state government to attract more capital-intensive, high-technology investments and clean industries into Johor.
“We need to move up the value chain in the manufacturing sector and can no longer depend on labour intensive manufacturing activities if Johor wants to emerge as the new economic power house,’’ said Khaled.
He said Johor would beef up its efforts in attracting more multinational corporations from all over the world not only to relocate their operations to the state but make Johor their regional headquarters.
Khaled said interest in Johor from domestic and foreign investors remained strong and was proven with Johor managing to maintain its top position in the manufacturing sector for five consecutive years.
Statistics from Malaysia Industrial Development Authority show Johor received RM115bil investments in manufacturing sector from 2013 until 2017, creating around 72,000 job opportunities.
“We are confident of maintaining our position as the leading investment destination in the manufacturing sector in the country this year,’’ he said.
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