JOHOR BARU: Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and his delegation's five-day working visit to Shenzhen has resulted in a potential investments exceeding RM1 billion to the state.
The Johor delegation met with 40 investors, which include company directors and decision makers of renowned global entities such as the China Telecom Global Corporation Limited, Shenzhen Capchem Technology Co Ltd, Guangzhou JiuHeng Barcode Co Ltd, Shenzhen Farben Information Technology Co Ltd, and TCL Technology Group, among others.
Onn Hafiz said the potential investors were eager to understand the direction the state is heading with its Johor Maju 2030 initiative.
They also shared their business expectations upon operating within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
"The discussions were aimed towards a mutually beneficial…or win-win situation.
"We assured them of our commitments, I am confident that Johor's rich diverse resources is more than capable of providing investors with a conducive economic environment," he said.
He added several implemented policies and initiatives such as JS-SEZ and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) are a clear message that Johor is ready to welcome new industry players to expand their businesses in the state.
The menteri besar also met China Communist Party secretary Meng Fanli.
The meeting focused on strategic cooperation between Johor and Shenzhen.
Both parties exchanged ideas and discussed proactive steps to ensure JS-SEZ is able to enjoy the same success as Shenzhen after it established a SEZ.
The establishment of a SEZ has transformed Shenzhen into China's third-largest city within just four decades, with a GDP of RMB3 trillion surpassing Hong Kong in 2021, while its population increased from 300,000 to 17 million.
The delegation also visited China's leading technology company Huawei.
Huawei's Smart City Solution programme had transformed Longgang, in Shenzhen into a smart city.
In the recent Johor Budget 2024, it was announced that a smart city will be established within the state capital.
Onn Hafiz said Johor is ready to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, and establish a national AI laboratory, with a memorandum of understanding signed between Huawei and TM Malaysia in 2022.
The delegation also paid a visit to Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art & Planning Exhibition (MoCAPE).
He said under 'the Greater JB and Johor Smart City initiatives', he is confident that Johor will transform into a modern city while preserving the arts and identity of Johor Baru as a historically rich city.