Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi speaks at the launch of the Johor Business Summit & Expo 2025 (JBSE 2025) in Johor Baru October 25, 2025. — Bernama pic
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Saturday, 25 Oct 2025 3:19 PM MYT
JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 25 — All parties, especially entrepreneurs and traders, are urged to enhance their skills and equip themselves with new competencies to ensure they can compete at the global level, thus seizing the opportunities created through the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said efforts to enhance upskilling and adapt to reskilling are vital for ensuring the people of Johor can compete globally and in tandem with the progress of developed countries.
“Through the openings created by this JS-SEZ, there will be lots of opportunities for jobs and for entrepreneurs. The JS-SEZ covers an area of 3,500 square kilometres — four times bigger than Singapore — and will focus on various sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, retail and tourism.
“Many big brands will be in Johor, and many local entrepreneurs have the potential to progress because, through JS-SEZ, many opportunities and incentives will be offered through the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).
He said this when speaking at the launch of the Johor Business Summit & Expo 2025 (JBSE 2025) at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre here today.
Onn Hafiz said the state government could only showcase entrepreneurs and traders who are really competitive and have a high standard of service quality to retain the confidence of foreign investors.
He reiterated that, although the government provided various facilities and incentives, entrepreneurs themselves needed to play an active role in enhancing their capabilities and resilience.
“We don’t want to offer the investors sub-standard or normal entrepreneurs. If they are not ready, the investors may conduct business just once and eventually complain to the state government that Johor entrepreneurs are not at the level they should be at. This is a huge challenge that we need to tackle.
“There is no such thing as a free meal. Just like I need to strengthen my own leadership, entrepreneurs also must strive to improve their capabilities and the quality of their services. We want to offer investors entrepreneurs who are truly qualified, have good income and are capable of competing on the global stage,” he said.
The two-day JBSE 2025, which began today, also showcases a forum session that brings together industry experts, policymakers and business leaders to discuss the direction and growth of the business sector in Johor.
The exhibition also features 80 exhibition booths that highlight Johor-based business suppliers, machinery, raw materials, packaging, as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), showcasing products and innovation under the ‘Meh Sapot Lokal’ campaign. — Bernama