By Danial Azhar
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia and Singapore introduced on Tuesday an settlement on a particular financial zone within the southern Malaysian state of Johor, aiming to help funding and unencumber motion of products and folks between the international locations.
The Southeast Asian neighbours first agreed in precept to collectively develop the financial zone a 12 months in the past.
Tuesday’s settlement was introduced throughout a go to to Malaysia by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and senior cupboard ministers.
“It is an vital undertaking … we will each be extra aggressive, improve our worth proposition, and collectively entice extra investments to our shores,” Wong informed a joint press convention with Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim.
“When negotiating the settlement, either side have actively engaged stakeholders to make sure that the SEZ has the circumstances to assist our companies develop collectively for the long run.”
Anwar mentioned the SEZ was distinctive initiative because it was uncommon for 2 international locations to staff up on a single undertaking.
The 2 international locations are aiming to draw high-value investments into Johor in sectors starting from manufacturing and logistics to tourism and power transition, Malaysia’s Financial Minister Rafizi Ramli informed reporters.
They’re concentrating on 50 tasks on the financial zone inside the first 5 years of its inception, and the creation of 20,000 expert jobs.
Malaysia will arrange and handle an infrastructure fund to help corporations trying to arrange there, whereas Singapore will create its personal fund to facilitate investments and help Singaporean corporations working in Johor, Rafizi mentioned.
Hundreds of Malaysians commute day by day to small however rich Singapore for work and examine, inflicting frequent visitors congestion on the causeway between the international locations, one of many world’s busiest border crossings.
The 2 leaders additionally invited proposals for high-speed rail between the 2 international locations, which Anwar mentioned ought to be led by the non-public sector, with restricted authorities involvement.
