ISKANDAR PUTERI: Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) affirms its commitment to fully support Budget 2026 through strategies that foster regional economic growth, strengthen the talent ecosystem, and expand green and digital innovation initiatives.
In a statement today, IIB said the government’s emphasis on developing southern Johor through the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is a timely and strategic move, positioning the region as a key driver of Malaysia’s economic growth.
It said the implementation of the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre-Johor (IMFC-J) and the Johor Super Lane is expected to expedite investment approvals, improve governance efficiency, and streamline investor facilitation, in line with the vision of positioning Johor as Malaysia’s dynamic international investment gateway.
IIB said JS-SEZ has recorded approved investments of RM37.1 billion in the first half of 2025, representing 66 per cent of Johor’s total investments.
"This reflects strong investor confidence in the region’s economic potential, which Johor also emerged as the state with the highest approved foreign direct investment (FDI) in Malaysia for the same period, totalling RM25.5 billion, accounting for more than one-third of the nation’s total FDI in the first half of 2025.
"This achievement reinforces Johor’s position as a strategic investment hub, driven by investor-friendly policies and the close collaboration between the federal and state governments,” it said.
IIB said that it will continue to play an active role in supporting the implementation of high-impact projects under JS-SEZ, ensuring that economic benefits are distributed inclusively to the people and surrounding communities.
The master developer of Iskandar Puteri also welcomed Khazanah Nasional Bhd's RM200 million allocation to implement the K-Youth Programme.
The programme will provide work-based training for 11,000 non-degree youth in strategic sectors, such as the semiconductors, digital technology, engineering, and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sectors.
"As a strategic implementation partner, IIB will work closely with Khazanah Nasional to ensure the effective rollout of the K-Youth Programme in Johor through an integrated approach involving industry players, training providers, and educational institutions within the state’s talent development ecosystem.
"This initiative complements the efforts of the Johor Talent Development Council (JTDC), co-led by IIB, in enhancing graduate employability and developing high-value career pathways through stronger collaboration between academia and industry,” it said.
Besides that, IIB sees potential to collaborate with the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Research & Development and Commercialisation Innovation (RDCI) initiatives under the National Innovation Agenda.
"This collaboration will further strengthen Johor’s position as a leading digital development hub and centre for technological innovation in southern Malaysia,” it added.
Meanwhile, IIB president and chief executive officer Datuk Idzham Mohd Hashim said Budget 2026 reflected the government’s determination to enhance the nation’s economic competitiveness through a balanced approach between physical development and human capital growth.
"We believe that the synergy of strategic investments, talent development, and green technology empowerment will accelerate Johor’s progress as a resilient, sustainable, and competitive regional economic hub,” he added. - Bernama
