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Singapore is waiting for specific proposals from Malaysia on how it will develop the South Johor Development Region after a visit there by a Singapore delegation recently.
These plans will then be communicated to local businesses interested in the project.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang said a "Johor-Singapore" combination will give both countries a competitive edge against China and India.
He added: "These plans to develop South Johor into a vibrant area of growth offer opportunities for our companies to invest in Johor and to build on the complementarities between Singapore and Johor."
Lee Bee Wah, MP, Ang Mo Kio GRC, said: "I would like to ask the Minister whether the Johor Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) has sent any clear signal to our Singapore companies that they're indeed welcome."
Mr Lim said: "We do realise that there are different levels of welcome. At the basic level, you don't want Singapore companies to be discriminated against. At the next level of welcome, you do want companies, all foreign companies, to be treated equally. Then at the third level of course, we try to get some advantages for our Singapore companies, through bilateral agreements, for example through FTA.
"And of course, ultimately, if we can have Singapore companies treated like national companies... as though they're local companies, then of course that's the ideal arrangement. So I think Singapore companies venturing overseas, would have to evaluate country risk and, of course, evaluate what is the treatment given to them." - CNA/ch
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