Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who is on a four-day working visit to Seoul, said the state’s delegation had engaged with companies such as Hanwha Solutions Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 firm known for its innovations in clean energy and chemicals.

The delegation also met with SPC Group, a global food company known for brands like Paris Baguette, and CJ CheilJedang Group, a producer of halal Korean food in Malaysia, Bernama reported.

“I believe these companies have confidence in Johor’s potential as a strategic investment destination,” he said.

“Johor offers significant business opportunities and a conducive ecosystem for long-term growth due to its strategic position and continued support (from the state government).”

Onn Hafiz said the state delegation took part in a seminar focusing on investment opportunities in Johor, particularly in the Johor-Singapore special economic zone. The seminar was attended by 83 Korean companies from various industries.

He also expressed confidence that Johor would be an ideal launchpad for investors looking to expand their businesses in the Asean region due to its strategic location which provides direct access to global markets.

The JS-SEZ joint agreement between Malaysia and Singapore is expected to be inked by the end of this year, with Onn Hafiz previously stating that it would create up to 100,000 high-paying jobs in the state.

The JS-SEZ is expected to improve the business ecosystems of both the Iskandar Malaysia region and Singapore, especially in the electronics, financial services, healthcare and business-related sectors.

Johor attracted RM43.1 billion in investments last year, with RM31 billion derived from foreign direct investment and RM12 billion from domestic direct investment.