PUTRAJAYA, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Iskandar Malaysia will place greater emphasis on local talent development, high-skilled jobs, and urban sustainability to ensure the region's economic growth also enhances the capabilities of Malaysian companies and the community's well-being.
The Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) said after 20 years of development, the next phase for the southern Johor region will focus not only on attracting investment but also on ensuring the local workforce and enterprises can participate in high-value economic activities.
"Closer collaboration between industry, universities, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions is needed to ensure the workforce's skills meet the demands of an increasingly technology-intensive and knowledge-based economy.
"This approach opens opportunities for local companies to increase their participation in technology, innovation, engineering, product development, and intellectual property, apart from growing from suppliers into strategic partners and regional players," IRDA said in a statement.
It said the transition is crucial to ensure more economic value from investments entering Iskandar Malaysia can be retained in the country, including through technology and knowledge transfer.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, chaired the 36th IRDA Meeting on behalf of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, together with Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi here today.
Meanwhile, IRDA said the region's competitiveness also depends on its ability to provide an urban environment that is liveable, sustainable, and resilient to climate change.
"Under the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) iii (2023-2030), Iskandar Malaysia's development agenda is structured around four priorities: High-Value Economy; Productive Society; Climate Resilient and Carbon Neutral; and Integrated and Liveable Cities.
"This approach positions infrastructure development, talent, environmental sustainability, and quality of life as part of the factors influencing the region's competitiveness in attracting investment," it said.
IRDA added that the development of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link also require planning that considers the needs of the local community.
Matters that need attention include the affordability of owning or renting homes, urban mobility, access to public facilities, community connectivity, as well as gentrification risks and climate-related impacts.
Integrated planning is important to ensure economic development does not compromise the social well-being and long-term resilience of the region.
Iskandar Malaysia's first two decades focused on infrastructure construction, scaling up, and economic momentum. The next phase will be evaluated based on the ability to increase productivity, expand high-skilled job opportunities, and strengthen the participation of Malaysian companies in the regional value chain.
IRDA is a Federal Government statutory body under the Economy Ministry that acts as the main coordinating agency between public and private sector stakeholders in planning, facilitating, and driving Iskandar Malaysia's development into a strong, sustainable, and international-standard metropolis.
It also coordinates efforts to ensure economic development goes hand-in-hand with social inclusivity and environmental sustainability across the five local authorities within the corridor.
-- BERNAMA