Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone Desk

Capitalising on connectivity

The economic relationship between Singapore and Malaysia continues to be a closely intertwined one, with either country consistently ranking as one of the other’s top three trading partners. In January 2025, leaders from Singapore and Malaysia signed a historic agreement on the establishment of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (“JS-SEZ”).

The JS-SEZ brings with it many opportunities, with a focus on improving cross-border connectivity between Singapore and Johor, as well as strengthening the business ecosystem in the region. In particular, both countries have agreed to promote and facilitate investments in 11 economic sectors – manufacturing, logistics, food security, tourism, energy, the digital economy, the green economy, financial services, business services, education, and health.

Seamless cross-border capabilities

With over 120 years of experience working on complex cross-border transactions across the region including in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, China, and Indonesia, our lawyers in A&G Asia work seamlessly to provide clients with holistic legal advice catered to their business goals. Through A&G Asia, we operate as one while tapping on the knowledge and experience of over 650 lawyers across the region to deliver legal advice grounded in sound local knowledge and industry best practices. A number of our A&G Asia lawyers are also dually qualified in both Singapore and Malaysia, and have active practices in both jurisdictions. This integrated approach is particularly valuable for businesses in the JS-SEZ, with legal and regulatory considerations often spanning both jurisdictions.

Our JS-SEZ Desk brings together lawyers from our Singaporean and Malaysian firms who have worked closely together for over 15 years. Building on our work in cross-border matters such as the Singapore-Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System Link, we apply the same seamless approach to help clients establish themselves, and operate and expand within the JS-SEZ.

Leveraging our regional strength to serve your best interests

Our team is supported by the full capabilities of A&G Asia, comprising over 650 lawyers across Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, China, and Indonesia. This enables us to deliver coordinated, cross-border advice in areas most relevant to the JS-SEZ, including Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Dispute Resolution, Construction & Engineering, Corporate Real Estate, Cybersecurity & Data Protection, Employment, Health & Safety, Energy, Infrastructure & Projects, ESG & Public Policy, Intellectual Property, Mergers & Acquisitions, as well as Technology & Corporate Intellectual Property Practices.

With this regional reach and depth, we support clients at every stage of their JS-SEZ journey, from structuring strategic entry, to building and financing their presence in the JS-SEZ and subsequently strengthening operations and regulatory compliance, as well as resolving disputes, helping our clients capture opportunities in Singapore, Malaysia, and across Asia.