Johor bahru: The Johor State Government is urging local talent and Malaysians working abroad to contribute to the state's economic growth through the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone initiative, which is projected to generate more than 20,000 skilled and high-paying jobs.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han said the initiative should be regarded as a valuable opportunity, as it also offers a special 15 percent income tax incentive for eligible individuals working in 11 key sectors, including construction and the digital economy.
Lee stated, "In addition, we are developing an investment ecosystem to attract the Johor diaspora, as well as Malaysians abroad, to return and contribute to the state's economic development," during a session with reporters at the Johor Dialogue 2026 programme at Menara Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru (MBJB).
Earlier, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, in his address at Johor Dialogue 2026, called on the Johor diaspora working overseas to come together and contribute to the state's economic development. Onn Hafiz emphasized the importance of collective effort, stating that the future wealth of Johor lies not merely in resources but in the strength, resilience, and innovative spirit of its people.
Onn Hafiz also highlighted the need for Johor's civil servants to possess a high level of knowledge to meet the challenges posed by an increasingly complex and dynamic global environment. To address this, the state government has launched initiatives through collaborations with higher education institutions, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Oxford University, to provide Johor civil servants with opportunities to participate in professional programmes.
He urged those participating in these prestigious programmes, particularly Johor civil servants, to fully embrace the opportunity and grow into agile, forward-looking leaders that Johor and the world now demand.
The Johor Dialogue 2026, organised for the first time by the state government, brought together leaders, agencies, and industry players to exchange views, chart a way forward, and strengthen cooperation to drive Johor's economic progress.