JOHOR BARU: Johor aims to position itself as a hub for the digital and creative industries by tapping into the fast-growing “orange economy”, says Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
He added that the orange economy, which encompasses creative and cultural industries such as media, design, technology and the arts, could be a high-value driver of innovation, jobs and exports.
“Make no mistake, the orange economy and the digital and creative economy are powerful engines of growth. They are no longer at the margins but at the very heart of national competitiveness,” he said.
Onn Hafiz said this in his speech before officiating the Asean Digital Content Summit (ADCS) 2025 held at Persada International Convention Centre here on Tuesday (Sept 2).
The Machap assemblyman pointed to the global success of South Korea and Japan as examples for Johor and Malaysia to emulate.
“South Korea’s cultural content industry is worth over US$113bil, employs more than 600,000 people, and exports over US$12bil annually. Japan’s anime industry is already valued at US$19bil, with projections to double by 2028.
“In less than three decades, Asian creative content has moved from the periphery to the global mainstream, competing with and even setting new trends alongside Hollywood and Europe,” he added.
Onn Hafiz said Johor had every advantage to become a creative powerhouse in Asean, citing its strategic location, strong infrastructure and pool of talent.
“By investing in our storytellers, designers, animators and musicians, we can build an ecosystem that not only creates high-value jobs for our youth but also exports Johor’s identity to the world,” he said.
Onn Hafiz also highlighted Johor’s existing achievements in the industry, including pioneering developers such as Imaginative Illusions, mobile games leader Common Extract, and Iskandar Malaysia Studios, which has hosted international productions like Netflix’s Marco Polo, Crazy Rich Asians, and Asia’s Got Talent.
“These successes are not coincidences. They prove that with talent, infrastructure and vision, Johor and Malaysia can stand tall in the global creative industry. Insya-Allah, through initiatives like the Johor Talent Development Council, we will empower our youth to seize opportunities in this sector,” he said.
Onn Hafiz said hosting the inaugural ADCS was a proud moment for Johor and placed the state firmly on the digital content map.
“This summit is a victory for every Johorean. It positions Johor as the digital content gateway between Malaysia and Asean, opening the door for new investments, high-value jobs and sustainable growth,” he said.
He added that the summit also aligned with the state’s preparations for Visit Johor 2026, which aims to showcase the state’s culture, heritage and tourism to global audiences.
Onn Hafiz thanked the Digital Ministry and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) for choosing Johor as the host of ADCS 2025, calling it a “bold step forward” in the state’s journey towards becoming a digital and AI hub.
