The event highlights deep bilateral ties and growing investment opportunities, with a focus on industrial development, innovation, and regional cooperation.

Singapore and Malaysia are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations with a renewed push to deepen their economic cooperation. Business leaders, government officials, and industrial park developers gathered for a major showcase event supported by Maybank Singapore and organized by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), highlighting new growth opportunities and joint investment ventures across Malaysia.

Tan Shu Yee, Director of the International Business Division at the Singapore Business Federation, welcomed over 140 participants and emphasized the event’s role in uniting government and business stakeholders. “This is more than just a celebration. It’s a recognition of our six decades of partnership, mutual trust, and shared ambitions,” she said.

A key highlight was the introduction of the Singapore Special Economic Zone, aimed at enhancing bilateral integration. The zone is expected to stimulate high-value industries, create thousands of jobs, and strengthen the industrial synergy between Singapore and Malaysia. Key Malaysian regions such as Selangor, Malacca, and Johor were spotlighted for their robust infrastructure and business-friendly environments, ideal for advanced manufacturing, green energy, and logistics.

Dato Dr. Azfar Mohamad Mustafar, the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Singapore, delivered a keynote speech stressing Malaysia’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and economic connectivity. He highlighted Malaysia’s efforts in upgrading industrial park infrastructure, streamlining logistics, and expanding 5G connectivity to support Industry 4.0.

He invited Singaporean businesses to anchor regional operations in Malaysia, noting that between 2014 and 2020, Singapore was one of Malaysia’s top five sources of foreign investment, contributing around RM27.3 billion. “Malaysia offers more than just industrial land; we are building livable, eco-friendly communities with strong supply chains and innovation ecosystems,” said Dato Dr. Azfar.

Malaysia’s strategy includes investments in green mobility, renewable energy, hydrogen, and smart industrial zones—positioning the country as a preferred green investment destination in Southeast Asia.

Dato’ Hasan Azhari Hj Idriss, CEO of Invest Selangor Berhad, introduced Invest Selangor’s initiatives, including the Managed Industrial Park (MIP) model and the upcoming Selangor International Business Summit 2025 set for October in Kuala Lumpur.

Last year’s summit, SPARK 2024, saw participation from 22 countries, 86 companies, and 15 investment agencies. The event recorded potential transaction values of RM12.26 billion and secured 23 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).

The event brought together major stakeholders including EcoWorld, Golden Valley High-Tech Park, Invest Malacca, Invest Selangor, and SDP Tech Valley. With support from financial institutions like Maybank, the gathering highlighted real opportunities and shared insights on Malaysia’s evolving industrial landscape.

Since 2020, the SBF has helped over 450 Singaporean companies explore Malaysia, facilitating over 100 business engagements. One notable success story is the Golden Bridge manufacturing facility, set to open in 2024 with an investment of over RM40 million.

As both nations look toward the future, today’s event set the stage for deeper ties, smarter infrastructure, and sustainable growth for generations to come.

Source – IN DIplomacy Reporters