Johor bahru: An additional RM200 million allocated to the Strategic Co-Investment Fund (CoSIF) under Budget 2026 is set to benefit Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz announced that this funding would support co-investments in high-impact projects by Malaysian SMEs, particularly those enhancing the cross-border industrial ecosystem between Johor and Singapore.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tengku Zafrul emphasized that CoSIF aims to enable SMEs to expand globally, focusing on capacity expansion, tech adoption, and sustainability. The financing is intended to complement policy and infrastructure incentives within the JS-SEZ, fostering a comprehensive enabling framework. Speaking at the 2nd JS-SEZ Joint Investment Forum at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Tengku Zafrul highlighted that under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), CoSIF will act as a key financing tool for industrial growth in the zone.
The minister noted that CoSIF’s new matching and risk-sharing ratio, along with the financing rate, is expected to encourage greater private sector involvement and leverage investments in alignment with NIMP’s industrial transformation objectives. Additionally, to expedite high-impact investments, all manufacturing projects within the zone’s non-sensitive economic sectors will receive fast-track approval for the Manufacturing Licence (ML) within seven working days. The Johor state government will issue the required ‘No Objection Letter’ (NOL) for ML issuance within the same timeframe.
Projects meeting these criteria will automatically qualify for Johor Super Lane facilitation, ensuring priority handling across state and federal agencies through a single channel. The government is also exploring enhancements to the Malaysia-Singapore Business Development Fund (MSBDF) to enable more SMEs, especially those aiming for regional expansion, to take advantage of joint business development opportunities.
The government has also allocated RM650 million through the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK) to support talent development in target sectors under NIMP 2030. Part of this funding may support talent initiatives for the JS-SEZ, benefiting approximately 25,000 trainees in sectors like artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and semiconductors. MITI plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Human Resources, the Johor Talent Development Council, and other agencies to create programs that align with industry needs and prepare Malaysia’s workforce for cross-border opportunities.
Meanwhile, under the Investor Pass initiative led by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), eligible foreign investors can acquire a Multiple Entry Visa valid for up to 12 months via the Xpats Gateway platform. This initiative targets new, existing, and potential investors across all sectors, facilitating travel and engagement during project planning and site visits. MIDA can now offer the Investor Pass proactively to multinational companies and prospective investors in high-value sectors, such as electrical and electronics, and those qualifying under the Family Office incentive approved by the Securities Commission of Malaysia.
The one-day JS-SEZ Joint Investment Forum was co-organized by Singapore and Malaysia and was also attended by Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.