The joint venture agreement was signed by IJM Land CEO Datuk Tony Ling Thou Lung (third from right), chief operating officer Datuk Chai Kian Soon (right), Socat chief operating officer Mohd Shahreza Maswan (third from left) and chief financial officer Syed Agil Syed Hashim (left) in the presence of Ministry of Finance Malaysia’s Government Investment Companies Division head of special investment, real estate & services section Mohd Hisyamuddin Awang Abu Bakar (centre), Socat board of director Datuk Seri Azmar Talib (second from right) and IJM Corporation Bhd group CEO and managing director Datuk Lee Chun Fai (second from left).
IJM Land Bhd, a subsidiary of IJM Corp Bhd, has entered into a joint venture to develop a 307.17-acre industrial and commercial project in Sedenak, Johor, within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM1.96 billion.
In a statement, IJM said the project will be jointly developed over a six- to eight-year period with Southern Catalyst Sdn Bhd (Socat), a Ministry of Finance Inc (MOF Inc)-linked company and the master developer of the Southern Catalyst Innovation District in Sedenak.
The broader Southern Catalyst Innovation District spans 2,940 acres.
Strategically located near the Sedenak toll plaza with access to the North-South Expressway, the development will focus on sectors including advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, biopharmaceuticals, logistics, agri-technology, and food technology.
The collaboration will be carried out through a joint venture company, IJM Land Sedenak Sdn Bhd, in which IJM Land will hold a 70 per cent stake, while Socat will own the remaining 30 per cent.
IJM Land CEO Datuk Tony Ling Thou Lung said Johor’s industrial market continues to show strong growth momentum, supported by its proximity to Singapore, competitive cost advantages, and continued foreign direct investment inflows.
He said the partnership aligns with IJM Land’s industrial expansion strategy and strengthens its participation in strategically located, master-planned developments within a high-growth corridor.
Meanwhile, Socat chief operating officer Mohd Shahreza Maswan said the collaboration aims to create an integrated industrial ecosystem focused on agri-tech, green technology, advanced manufacturing, and logistics, while supporting food security, attracting global investments, and positioning the area as a regional hub for sustainable and innovation-driven growth.
IJM Group also highlighted its experience in large-scale industrial developments, including the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP), which spans over 3,500 acres and has attracted more than RM30 billion in investments.
The JS-SEZ, launched on Jan 7, 2025, is a joint initiative between Malaysia and Singapore to establish an integrated trade and investment hub. Covering over 357,000 hectares across six local council areas in Johor, the zone combines Singapore’s strengths in finance and research with Johor’s land availability and lower operating costs.
The initiative aims to raise Johor’s gross domestic product (GDP) to RM260 billion by 2030 and create 20,000 high-skilled jobs, while supporting sectors such as logistics, manufacturing, finance, digital economy, tourism, healthcare, education, energy, and the green economy.
At Monday’s market close, IJM Corp shares rose five sen, or 2.4 per cent, to RM2.12, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM7.73 billion.
