Singapore Businesses Want Less Red Tape in Malaysia Special Zone
- Many Singapore firms cite labor, tax, travel issues in Johor
- Malaysia on course to sign a deal with Singapore in September
Johor Bahru, capital of the state of Johor in Malaysia.
Photographer: Ore Huiying/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Singapore businesses want a planned joint special economic zone with Malaysia to slash red tape and help with labor and connectivity issues, according to a poll by the city’s top chamber of commerce.
Insufficient skilled labor, unclear tax rules and ease of movement were among gaps and challenges identified by 160 businesses surveyed by the Singapore Business Federation. Half of the respondents already operate in Malaysia’s Johor state, home of the planned zone.