Iskandar Malaysia Secures RM26.77 Billion New Investments In Year 2014

JOHOR BAHARU, March 10 – Iskandar Malaysia secured RM26.77 billion in new investments last year, bringing the total cumulative committed investments amount to RM158.3 billion since 2006. It gained 1.8 billion of new investments on 4th quarter of 2014.

In 2013, the Iskandar Malaysia new investments were RM25.05 billion.

Iskandar Regional Development Authority chief executive, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, said of the total of cumulative committed investments, RM77.07 billion or 49 per cent, represented investments that had been realised.

He said the figure showed that Iskandar Malaysia continued to do well despite the challenges facing the global economy.

“It also shows the confidence in Iskandar Malaysia, especially among local investors, with domestic investments making up RM101.14 billion, or 64 per cent, of the total cumulative committed investments to date,” Ismail said in a statement here Tuesday.

From the total cumulative committed investments, 36 per cent or RM56.99 billion was came from foreign investors.

From January until September last year, top foreign investors were Singapore, US, Spain, Japan and China.

With such huge investments, Ismail said, they would bring ample business opportunities for entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises SME as well as creating more jobs opportunities in Iskandar Malaysia.

In 2014 alone, a total of 651,536 jobs have been created in Johor from various sectors in Iskandar Malaysia including manufacturing, hospitality, food and beverage, and education, he said.

Ismail said with the launch of the enhanced Iskandar Malaysia Comprehensive Development Plan (CDPii) by the second quarter of this year, investors and stakeholders may also get an insight into the outlook and opportunities in Iskandar Malaysia as it moved into its third phase towards maturity in 2025.

“The CDPii encompasses several aspects related to the environment, economy and social development strategies for Iskandar Malaysia, an inclusive plan that would benefit the communities in Iskandar region,” he said.

Source: www.star.com