Since its inception in 2006, Iskandar Malaysia, an economic area in Malaysia's state of Johor, has been rapidly growing and is poised to become the chosen foreign metropolis to invest, work, live, and play.
It is strategically situated at the southernmost tip of mainland Asia, more than three times the size of neighbouring Singapore, and sits on the world's busiest shipping routes, with major Asian cities within a 6-hour flight time through the Senai International Airport.
The Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) and the Circle of Sustainability guide Iskandar Malaysia's development, ensuring that the region develops holistically into a productive economy with a high-quality living ecosystem and a resilient climate.
Electrical and Electronics, Petrochemical and Oleo-Chemical, Food & Agro-Processing, Logistics, Tourism, Creative, Healthcare, and Financial sectors have all benefited from Iskandar Malaysia's large land area, strategic location, and abundant ready infrastructure.
The flourishing economic climate is complemented by growth in the social and environmental facets, with a demographic goal of 3 million people and RM383 billion in cumulative investment by 2025.
The emphasis of its social development agenda is on ensuring that the region's population grows in lockstep with physical and economic growth, and that people live in a safe living ecosystem. The spirit is to ensure that no one is left behind and that everyone profits from growth through a variety of programmes and initiatives that promote and facilitate entrepreneurship, volunteerism, sports and healthy living, arts & culture, and youth development, among others.
In terms of the climate, Iskandar Malaysia is developing through a Green-focused Agenda, with one of the key agenda items being green and sustainable environment. The ‘Iskandar Malaysia Low Carbon Society Blueprint' is well-known both locally and internationally, and it has prompted many regional stakeholders to implement a variety of green programmes and initiatives that support businesses and the environment.
Iskandar Malaysia is also being developed as a Smart City, encompassing the six dimensions of Smart Economy, Smart Governance, Smart Environment, Smart Mobility, Smart People, and Smart Living, and is proud of its accomplishment in developing this pilot programme for Smart cities across Malaysia and the area.
The Iskandar Regional Development Authority is in charge of planning, promoting, and facilitating the development of Iskandar Malaysia (IRDA).
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad announced on Friday that the Malaysian government has doubled the size of the Iskandar Malaysia growth corridor, which was established 13 years ago (Feb 22).
The area, which currently covers most of southern Johor and spans 2,217 square kilometres (roughly three times the size of Singapore), is being extended to cover 4,749 square kilometres.
Parts of Kluang in central Johor, Kota Tinggi in the east, and Pontian in the west will be included in the new regions.
The decision to extend the area was made at the Iskandar Regional Development Authority's 24th Members of Authority (MoA) meeting (IRDA).
In a tweet, IRDA co-chairman Tun Mahathir said, "The progress of Iskandar steadily charted since 2006 has been truly spectacular and will be key in helping Malaysia reclaim its leadership as an Asean Tiger." He was referring to Malaysia's 1990s status as a fast-growing "tiger economy."
"As the agency driving the development of Iskandar, I remain optimistic on the role and responsibilities of IRDA in supporting the development of Johor and the nation's agenda," he said.