UEM Sunrise and GuocoLand have recently signed an MOU under the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) between Malaysia and Singapore private companies. The MOU aims to accelerate growth within the JS-SEZ by jointly developing UEM Sunrise’s selected freehold landbank in Iskandar Puteri, Johor. The signing ceremony of the MOU was held at UEM Sunrise Gallery Iskandar Puteri, a showcase of the group’s vision of Iskandar Puteri.
Iskandar Puteri, which forms Flagship Zone B of the JS-SEZ, specializes in various sectors, including manufacturing, business services, education, health and tourism. This collaboration is expected to cover UEM Sunrise’s selected plots of land in Gerband Nusajaya and Puteri Harbour, two key master-planned areas within Iskandar Puteri. The joint effort aims to activate Iskandar Puteri’s potential and enhance its attractiveness for investment. It will focus on improving connectivity, fostering talent development and creating a business-friendly ecosystem as drivers for sustainable economic benefits in Johor.
“This partnership is not just about development, but also about shaping a thriving end-to-end, future-ready economic hub that fuels long-term growth, creates jobs and strengthens the JS-SEZ ecosystem,” says Hafizuddin Sulaiman, CFO of UEM Sunrise. The sites are strategically located near Singapore, Senai Airport and the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, making it a prime location for long-term economic growth and positioning Iskandar Puteri as a robust business and investment hub.
Datuk Hisham Hamdan, Chairman of UEM Sunrise, believes that the JS-SEZ, developments in Iskandar Puteri, and strategic partnerships are all part of a larger vision to position Johor as a dynamic and forward-thinking economy. This collaboration will bring along GuocoLand’s experience in real estate development and asset management, as well as an understanding of the needs of companies from Singapore, Malaysia and China that wish to establish a presence in the JS-SEZ.
Together, the combined expertise of UEM Sunrise and GuocoLand will enable them to shape Iskandar Puteri and the wider JS-SEZ through innovative developments. UEM Sunrise has already played a crucial role in Iskandar Puteri’s urban development with existing developments such as the Aspira series and Senadi Hill residential townships, and commercial and retail hubs including an upcoming 380-acre industrial park in Gerband Nusajaya.
The growth in Iskandar Puteri is set to be spurred on by incentives and support schemes introduced by the governments of Malaysia and Singapore, which aim to increase investments for the JS-SEZ. These measures include special tax rates, stamp duty exemptions and capital allowances. With this partnership between UEM Sunrise and GuocoLand, it is expected that Iskandar Puteri will continue to flourish as a prime investment destination.