JOHOR BARU: The one-stop centre to facilitate investment in Johor is expected to be completed this year, says Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
The Mentri Besar said the centre, among the initiatives in the Johor-Singapore special economic zone (JS-SEZ), will be the first of its kind in the country.
"We will have an investment facilitation centre in Johor that will see the collaboration of all Federal and state agencies related to investment.
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"The centre will be the first of its kind in the country. There is one in Kuala Lumpur but it does not have the special state and Federal government collaboration like the one here.
"We target to have the centre ready by this year," he told a press conference here on Monday (Feb 12) after visiting the Layang water treatment plant and Kota Masai main intake substation.
He said the centre will make it easier for investors to set up businesses here as they will only need to go to one place for all their investment needs.
During the JS-SEZ memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing between Malaysia and Singapore last month, the two countries outlined several initiatives in building up the economic zone.
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Other initiatives aside from the one-stop centre include passport-free QR code clearance system on both sides, and adopting digitalised processes for cargo clearance at land checkpoints.
On another matter, Onn Hafiz also said the Johor Fast Lane concept, which aims to reduce red tape in council matters, also made Johor appear more attractive to investors.
"The concept started with the Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu) before it was extended to other local councils.
"Currently, four local councils – Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP), Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) and MPKu – have implemented the concept," he said.
He added that last year, the Johor Fast Lane helped the four local councils attract 30 investors in total.
