In collaboration with AmBank Group, industry leaders from E&E, advanced manufacturing, chemicals and advanced materials convene to identify challenges, strengthen industrial capabilities, supply chains and cross-border collaboration.
ISKANDAR PUTERI, JOHOR, 13 AUGUST 2026 – The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is strengthening Johor’s position as a competitive regional manufacturing hub, supported by closer Malaysia-Singapore industry collaboration, deeper supply chain integration and the development of higher-value industrial capabilities.
In support of this agenda, the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), in collaboration with AmBank Group, convened the Iskandar Malaysia CEO Roundtable Series 2026 bringing together senior industry leaders, associations, academia and supporting institutions to discuss opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the region’s manufacturing ecosystem.
Held at the Sheraton Hotel, Johor Bahru, the Roundtable featured two focused sessions covering Electrical & Electronics (E&E) and Advanced Manufacturing in the morning, followed by Chemicals and Advanced Materials in the afternoon, under the overarching theme “Resilience Through Regional Collaboration.”
The Roundtable provided a platform for open and constructive industry-government dialogue on the evolving manufacturing landscape, including market and investment trends, supply chain resilience, talent and skills, adoption of Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence (AI), ESG and sustainability, regulatory and certification requirements, innovation, financing and future business opportunities.
“The JS-SEZ is not only about attracting new investments, but also about ensuring that the private sector is ready to capture and create value from the growth opportunities emerging from the Zone. The Iskandar Malaysia CEO Roundtable Series provides an important platform for us to understand how businesses are positioning themselves and planning for the JS-SEZ, while ensuring that the supporting ecosystem is ready to meet their evolving needs.
Ultimately, our focus is to leverage the growth of the JS-SEZ to deepen the region’s economic complexity, strengthen local capabilities and build a more resilient and competitive industrial ecosystem,” said Mr. Rudyanto Azhar, Director, Economic Development, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA).
The industry perspectives and feedback gathered through the engagement will contribute to ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the JS-SEZ Master Plan, particularly in strengthening investment facilitation, talent development, technology adoption, policy and regulatory support, and the wider industrial ecosystem.
Mr. Chua Bang Lee, Head of Commercial Banking Region, Business Banking, AmBank Group said “The JS-SEZ presents a significant opportunity to strengthen Johor’s position as a regional hub for advanced manufacturing, technology and supply chains. Through this partnership with IRDA, we continue to reflect our shared commitment to turning this opportunity into tangible economic outcomes. With more than RM20 billion in financing provided in Johor and over 100 FDI clients supported through our dedicated FDI Desk since 2023, we look forward to working alongside IRDA and our business partners to support investment, growth and the continued development of the JS-SEZ.”
E&E and Advanced Manufacturing: Deepening Regional Industrial Integration
The morning session focused on the Electrical & Electronics (E&E) and Advanced Manufacturing ecosystem, examining the sector’s outlook and opportunities arising from a more integrated Johor-Singapore manufacturing platform.
The session featured insights from Mr. David Khor, Senior Fellow at MIMOS, who provided an outlook on the E&E sector, while the roundtable discussion was moderated by Mr. Firdaos Rosli, Chief Economist of AmBank Group.
Discussions examined the evolving needs of the E&E and advanced manufacturing sectors in capturing a projected 1 trillion Ringgit Semiconductor Market by 2030. Such steps include strengthening technology adoption, automation, supply chain connectivity, talent development, and innovation capabilities.
The session brought together representatives across the manufacturing value chain, including Beckhoff Automation, Foz Group Berhad, Keyence Malaysia, MTAG Group Berhad, SICK Sdn. Bhd., C-Hawk Technology, IPE Group, V.S. Industry, Flextronics Technology, Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association, Singapore Manufacturing Federation, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and other industry stakeholders.
The diverse participation reflected the interconnected nature of the manufacturing ecosystem, where manufacturers, technology providers, industry associations, academia and supporting institutions play complementary roles in strengthening the region’s competitiveness and resilience.
The session ended with Ms Chean Pei Chen, Head of Financial Institution Group and Supply Chain Finance of AmBank Group who shared the bank’s Supply Chain Financing solutions.
Chemicals and Advanced Materials: Building Higher-Value Industrial Capabilities
The afternoon session focused on Chemicals and Advanced Materials, exploring opportunities to strengthen Johor’s industrial base through higher-value materials, specialized manufacturing capabilities, supply chain connectivity and new investment opportunities.
The discussion was moderated by Mr. Vincent Ting, Principal, Southeast Asia at Roland Berger, with participation from senior representatives across the chemicals, materials, energy, logistics and manufacturing ecosystem.
Participants included representatives from Hydro Emission, Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, Miyoshi Oil & Fat Co Ltd, Pengerang Terminal Sdn Bhd, Idemitsu Petrochemicals (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Arkema Coating Resins Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, Singapore Manufacturing Federation, FGV Holdings Bhd, Natural OleoChemicals Sdn. Bhd., Pacific Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., MICCI Southern Region and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, alongside IRDA and supporting stakeholders.
The market outlook session estimates the global high-value specialty chemicals market at approximately USD676 billion in 2025, with overall CAGR of about 5% through 2030 highlighting huge opportunities in the mid to downstream specialty chemicals within the JS-SEZ. This highlights the importance of developing stronger industrial capabilities and regional supply chains to support more sophisticated manufacturing activities, while creating opportunities for greater collaboration between companies operating across Johor and Singapore.
The participation of industry players from both Malaysia and Singapore further reinforced the cross-border nature of the JS-SEZ and its potential to connect complementary capabilities, technologies, infrastructure and investment opportunities across the two economies.
Industry Feedback to Support JS-SEZ Implementation
The Iskandar Malaysia CEO Roundtable Series 2026 – Manufacturing forms part of IRDA’s continuing engagement with industry to ensure that the development of the JS-SEZ remains responsive to the needs of businesses and aligned with evolving regional and global manufacturing trends. Through Roundtable industry leaders were able to share the need to expedite infrastructure development, streamlining policies, and ensuring swift approvals.
ABOUT ISKANDAR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (IRDA)
The Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) is a Federal statutory body established under the Iskandar Regional Development Authority Act 2007 (Act 664). Operating under the purview of the Ministry of Economy (Kementerian Ekonomi), IRDA is the primary regulatory authority mandated to plan and facilitate the development of Iskandar Malaysia into a strong, sustainable metropolis of international standing.
As the lead agency for the region, IRDA drives economic growth by coordinating strategic projects such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) while ensuring social inclusivity and environmental sustainability across the five local authorities within the corridor. By bridging the gap between Federal and State governments, IRDA ensures that the region's legacy of progress serves as a robust platform for future global excellence and prosperity for all.
For more information, please visit www.iskandarmalaysia.com.my
