Knight Frank Malaysia and Knight Frank Singapore have launched a pivotal research paper on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) during the ‘Bridging Growth Across Borders’ event. The gathering, held on 21 August at Amari Hotel Johor Bahru, attracted over 200 government leaders, industry players, and investors, marking a significant step in the cross-border economic collaboration between Malaysia and Singapore.
The event featured a keynote by the Chief Executive of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Dato’ Haji Mohd. Noorazam, and a joint presentation by Amy Wong, Executive Director of Research & Consultancy at Knight Frank Malaysia, and Leonard Tay, Head of Research at Knight Frank Singapore. A panel discussion explored how the JS-SEZ can facilitate smarter cross-border business, with insights from industry leaders including Jimmy Koh of United Overseas Bank Limited and Law Chung Ming of the Singapore Logistics Association.
The JS-SEZ, signed into agreement in January, aims to boost trade, investment, and talent flow between Johor and Singapore. Knight Frank’s research paper highlights the zone’s potential to attract high-value industries through competitive real estate costs and enhanced infrastructure. In the first quarter of 2025, Johor secured RM30.1 billion in investments, with 89% from foreign investors.
Amy Wong noted, “This research brief provides an investment outlook and showcases how Johor’s scale and workforce complement Singapore’s capital and global connectivity.” Leonard Tay added, “With space and cost pressures in Singapore, the JS-SEZ offers businesses room to grow whilst staying connected to their headquarters and markets.”
Knight Frank continues to support investors and developers navigating the JS-SEZ, offering services such as strategic land sourcing and cross-border advisory. The full research paper is available for download on Knight Frank’s website.
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