On July 1, 2026, Raffaele Langella, Ambassador of Italy to Malaysia, attended the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) Executive Forum at the invitation of Malaysia’s Minister of Economy, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
The forum, which took place at a hotel in the city, showcased the JS-SEZ as a strategic gateway for Italian businesses to expand efficiently across ASEAN through its cross-border economic model. Also attended by members of Confindustria and representatives from Italian companies who were in Kuala Lumpur for the Italy–Malaysia Business Mission (June 29-June 30), the event highlighted JS-SEZ’s potential as a platform for investment, innovation, industry, and regional market access.
Speaking to the media, Langella said Italian companies were looking at a wide range of sectors for expansion into South-East Asia, and Johor is an attractive option because of its position in regional value chains.
“Potentially, all sectors are involved. It’s a matter of how you position yourself inside the global value chains and what kind of product you have to offer to this wide area which is South-East Asia,” he said, adding logistics, oil and gas, and high‑technology training were among the sectors that have drawn Italian attention.
Langella also credited Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Rome in July last year with helping change the trajectory of bilateral cooperation, adding that interest in Malaysia among Italian investors had since risen markedly.
Akmal in his keynote address titled ‘Policy Pulse: An Interactive Conversation’ said: “For European companies, including those from Italy, this proposition is highly relevant. Companies from Italy and across the European Union are recognised for excellence in advanced manufacturing, engineering, automation, sustainability, industrial design and innovation. These are also areas where JS-SEZ can become a meaningful platform for future growth,” he said.
(Photo credit: Ministry of Economy Malaysia)
