JOHOR BARU: Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and his delegation will leave for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday, in a strategic bid to attract more foreign direct investments (FDI) to the state.
The trip will include working visits to key entities such as Abu Dhabi's global investment firm and energy company, the Dubai International Financial Centre, the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone, and meetings with potential investor companies.
The delegation will feature prominent figures including Johor's Economic, Tourism and Cultural Office chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad, State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han, State Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives and Human Resources Committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah, alongside representatives from Invest Johor, the Malaysia Investment Development Council (Mida), and the state's National Sports Council.
Onn Hafiz said that this international push was a continuation of successful engagements in Singapore, China, Japan, and South Korea.
He said that a significant aspect of the trip would be a meeting with former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in Abu Dhabi to discuss Johor's youth development programmes and the potential establishment of an official Khabib training gymnasium in the state.
Khabib, who previously expressed interest in investing in Johor, had earlier met Johor's Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim in Johor Baru and had also engaged with Onn Hafiz and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during his recent visit to Malaysia.
Onn Hafiz said that promoting Johor on the international stage was vital for creating jobs, stimulating opportunities, and driving the state's economic growth.
In October, he and his team engaged with 83 companies in South Korea, where they showcased the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) initiatives.
They then visited Japan, where Fuji Oil Asia Pte Ltd signed a deal with Johor Plantations Group Bhd to establish a RM500 million refinery in Kota Tinggi.
In March, the delegation's visit to China's Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ) led to investment opportunities for Johor surpassing RM1 billion.
On the JS-SEZ, Onn Hafiz said that he recently held an online meeting with Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan to finalise the agreement, which is set to be signed by Malaysia and Singapore in December.
"We are finalising incentives for all sectors and flagship areas. Execution will be our next challenge, as it's not enough to have plans on paper," he told the New Straits Times.
Johor is projected to achieve its highest-ever revenue this year, surpassing RM2 billion.
Onn Hafiz reiterated that the state government was committed to channelling this success into initiatives that benefit the people, ensuring economic growth translated into tangible improvements for Johoreans.