Witnessing the exchange of agreement documents between Ahmad (second from left) and Inn (second from right) was Lim (centre). Looking on are Akmal (left) and Azizah.
KUALA LUMPUR: JLand Group (JLG), the real estate and infrastructure arm of Johor Corporation (JCorp) and CGS International Securities Malaysia Sdn Bhd (CGS) have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance high-quality investments and operating partnerships for the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) by pairing CGS’s capital markets depth with JLG’s ready-to-deliver industrial zones.
The three-year, non-binding MoU is designed to significantly strengthen investment connectivity into the JS-SEZ from Asean and global markets. The partnership formalises collaboration across three core areas, all focused on developing and promoting a thriving ecosystem:
- Promotion and referrals: CGS MY will leverage its international network and capabilities to identify, attract and develop business partnerships, private equity investments and business growth opportunities specifically for the JS-SEZ.
- Investment acceleration: Building on successful referrals, CGS MY may provide crucial financial advisory and investment banking solutions, including fundraising, Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and mergers and acquisitions (M&As) for businesses setting up or expanding within the JS-SEZ.
- Execution enablement: Both parties will actively facilitate capital raising, bolster investor participation and support project implementation, thereby enhancing credibility and confidence for companies establishing operational bases in the zone.
Commenting on the partnership, JLG group managing director Datuk Akmal Ahmad emphasised the group’s evolving role: “JLG’s role is evolving beyond master developer to ecosystem curator—designing and orchestrating the connections between capital, land, infrastructure and talent that enterprises need to scale,” he said.
“This partnership with CGS marks a strategic milestone in that journey: it strengthens our platform to deliver curated, end-to-end solutions for investors and operators—from site readiness and infrastructure enablement while deliberately elevating local champions into larger value chains. Anchored in strong governance and sustainability, this is how JS-SEZ becomes a trusted new-economy platform connected to key global markets,” he added.
CGS deputy chief executive officer Alan Inn Wei Loon highlighted the unique synergy created by the alliance: “We are delighted to partner with JLG to connect international capital and advanced technology with Malaysia’s growth opportunities, particularly in JS-SEZ, home to JLG’s significant and strategic land holdings that are primed for transformative development.
“This collaboration reflects CGS’s ongoing commitment to building meaningful partnerships under the Belt and Road Initiative, harnessing Johor’s booming economic growth and its pivotal role as a trade gateway between Asean and China.”
By leveraging its deep Asia and China networks and financial advisory expertise, CGS aims to facilitate high-tech, Intellectual Property-driven, high-growth ventures. This activity is expected to unlock JLG’s expansive land resources, accelerate infrastructure-led expansion, and drive robust trade flows for sustained regional integration and prosperity.
By uniting capital-market intelligence with turnkey industrial districts, the collaboration adopts a multi-investor model that welcomes diversified operators across regional and major global markets. This move strongly supports Malaysia’s ambition to deepen participation in regional value chains by mobilising cross-border financing, catalysing technology and talent flows and accelerating green, future-ready industrial growth—thereby reinforcing Johor’s position as Malaysia’s southern growth corridor and gateway to global markets.
The MoU was formalised at CGS’s Parallel Financial Street Forum, which was co-hosted with Bursa Malaysia at Exchange Square, Kuala Lumpur. The signing was witnessed by Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Yin, Akmal and CGS chief executive officer Azizah Mohd Yatim. The agreement documents were formally exchanged by JLG chief strategy officer Ahmad Fadzli Zainudin and Inn.
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