KUALA LUMPUR: Italy has shown growing interest in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), in part because of geopolitical shifts following the Middle East conflict, says Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
While Malaysia must not appear to be taking advantage of the situation, he said the JS‑SEZ could become a viable option for investors reassessing regional supply chains.
"We received a strong request from Italy particularly, and also from other European countries, to organise a session with potential investors and their chambers," he told reporters after the JS-SEZ Executive Forum here on Wednesday (July 1).
He recalled a courtesy visit with Italian Ambassador Raffaele Langella about a month ago, during which the envoy told him several investors were ready to explore opportunities in the JS-SEZ.
"I offered to organise a session with the investors and gave my personal commitment to His Excellency because we need to quickly capture this interest and convert it into real outcomes," he said.
He added that follow‑up sessions would be arranged to pursue potential investments from European countries.
He also said Malaysia would move swiftly to capitalise on the momentum and hoped to secure tangible investment commitments in follow‑up engagements.
Earlier, Akmal Nasrullah delivered his keynote address titled "Policy Pulse: An Interactive Conversation", during which he said that JS-SEZ is about turning proximity into productivity.
"t brings together Malaysia's industrial scale, land availability and competitive cost structure with Singapore's financial depth, global connectivity and advanced services ecosystem.
"This is the Malaysia-Singapore advantage that we want investors to see, understand and use. For European companies, including those from Italy, this proposition is highly relevant.
"Companies from Italy and across the European Union are recognised for excellence in advanced manufacturing, engineering, automation, sustainability, industrial design and innovation.
"These are also areas where JS-SEZ can become a meaningful platform for future growth," he said.
Meanwhile, Langella said that Italian companies are looking at a wide range of sectors for expansion into South-East Asia, and Johor is an attractive option because of its position in regional value chains.
"Potentially, all sectors are involved. It’s a matter of how you position yourself inside the global value chains and what kind of product you have to offer to this wide area which is South-East Asia," he said.
Langella cited existing Italian involvement in Johor’s industrial landscape, noting the presence of ST Macroelectronics and major projects such as the Eni-PETRONAS joint venture in the oil and gas sector.
He said Italy is seeking "high‑quality" investments that integrate into broader ecosystems, rather than one‑off capital injections.
"The special economic zone in Vietnam has been crucial for the consolidation of the Italian presence in that country, so (we) are willing to build upon that experience and maybe start new initiatives here in Malaysia," the ambassador added.
He also highlighted Italy’s strength in small and medium enterprise know‑how and training, saying that human resource exchange is another area of mutual interest.
Langella said logistics, oil and gas, and high‑technology training are among the sectors that have drawn Italian attention.
He noted that a delegation from a technology company is expected to request a visit to the JS-SEZ soon.
The ambassador credited Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Rome in July last year with helping change the trajectory of bilateral cooperation, adding that interest in Malaysia among Italian investors had since risen markedly.
