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Singapore, Malaysia Want to Build Their Own Shenzhen-Style Mega-Hub
A renewed effort to weave together the economies of Singapore and southern Malaysia could benefit both nations, if political challenges can finally be overcome.
By
Ram Anand and
Chanyaporn Chanjaroen
August 22, 2024 at 7:00 AM GMT+8
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A bid to turn one of the world’s busiest border regions into a trading and transportation mega-hub could bolster the economies of Singapore and Malaysia and help cement Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s grip on power — if a long history of political roadblocks and delays don’t stand in the way.
Negotiators from both nations are finalizing an accord to designate part of Malaysia’s southern Johor state as a cross-border special economic zone (SEZ) before the end of the year.
Tech firms including Nvidia Corp. and GDS Holdings Ltd. are already investing in data-center parks that are expected to benefit — and expand — under the agreement.