許多總部設在新加坡的公司已經在新加坡和柔佛州開展結對業務。企業可以將部分業務設在柔佛州，以利用那裡的資源，同時將總部和研究職能集中在新加坡，因為新加坡在這方面具有相對優勢。例如，巴黎貝甜（Paris Baguette）的母公司韓國 SPC 集團在新加坡設有地區總部和創新中心，而其地區生產基地則在柔佛。

我們還可以共同吸引新的投資進入聯合經濟特區，這些投資可能會在新加坡開展業務或利用新加坡提供的服務。例如，總部設在新加坡的農業商品和食品配料公司安銳可（Agrocorp） 最近與日本合作伙伴在柔佛州新建了一家工廠，以擴大其植物蛋白提取的下游能力。該工廠將採用安銳可（Agrocorp）和新加坡理工學院（Singapore Institute of Technology）開發的蛋白質提取技術。隨著我們公司的發展，這些在柔佛州的投資為新加坡經濟創造了價值。

我最近與新加坡工商聯合總會（SBF）進行了交談，他們告訴我，本月晚些時候，將有100多家新加坡公司參加新加坡工商聯合總會派前往柔佛經濟特區的商務代表團。因此，那裡也有相當大的投資興趣。

為此，我們將繼續透過現有的企業支援計劃，為新加坡的企業提供支援。符合條件的新加坡公司投資於柔新聯合經濟特區，可以尋求新加坡企業發展局管理的市場進入協助計劃（Market Readiness Assistance Grant）和企業融資計劃（Enterprise Financing Scheme）的支援。馬來西亞也宣佈了對聯合經濟特區的一攬子激勵措施，包括對符合條件的投資實行特殊的公司稅和所得稅稅率，並打算在準備就緒後公佈更多細節。

安迪（碧山-大巴窯集選區議員）：謝謝議長先生。感謝政務部長的回答。我有幾個補充問題。首先，關於我提出的國會問題，我仍然希望得到政務部長的答覆，即政府是否擔心某些特定行業將受到不利影響，某些投資或公司和企業是否可能由於柔新經濟特區政策而搬遷，以及貿工部（MTI）是否有任何關於柔新經濟特區第一階段和未來階段創造就業數字的預測。

The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Mr Alvin Tan) (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) seeks to capitalise on the complementary strengths of Singapore and Johor to strengthen Singapore's competitiveness and to create good jobs for Singaporeans. Businesses across sectors including manufacturing, logistics and digital economy can benefit from the improved cross-border flow of goods and people, and ease of doing business in the JS-SEZ.

Many Singapore-based companies already have twinning operations in Singapore and Johor. Firms could benefit from siting some of their operations in Johor to take advantage of the resources there, whilst focusing headquarters and research functions in Singapore, where we have relative strengths. For instance, South Korea's SPC Group, the parent company of Paris Baguette, operates its regional headquarters and innovation centre in Singapore, while its regional production base is in Johor.

We can also jointly attract new investments to the JS-SEZ, which may establish operations in Singapore or tap on the services provided by Singapore. For example, Agrocorp, an agri-commodities and food ingredient firm headquartered in Singapore, recently expanded its downstream capabilities in plant protein extraction with a new plant with its Japanese partner in Johor. This plant will use protein extraction technology developed by Agrocorp and the Singapore Institute of Technology. These investments in Johor create value for the Singapore economy as our firms grow.

I caught up with the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) recently and they told me that over 100 Singapore firms will be joining the SBF business mission to the JS-SEZ later this month. So, there is also considerable investment interest there.

In that vein, we will continue to support businesses in Singapore through existing enterprise support schemes. Eligible Singapore companies investing in the JS-SEZ can seek support from schemes such as the Market Readiness Assistance Grant and Enterprise Financing Scheme administered by Enterprise Singapore. Malaysia has also announced an incentive package for the JS-SEZ, including special corporate and income tax rates for qualifying investments, and intend to announce more details when ready.

Mr Speaker: Mr Saktiandi.

Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Mr Speaker, thank you. I thank the Minister of State for his answer. I have a few supplementary questions. First, in relation to the Parliamentary Question that I had filed, I would still like to get the Minister of State's response whether the Government is concerned that some specific sectors will be adversely affected, whether certain investments or companies and firms will likely relocate to the JS-SEZ as a result of the JS-SEZ, and whether there are any projections of job creation numbers that the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has in relation to the JS-SEZ within the first phase and future phases.

Second, the Minister of State mentioned about Malaysia introducing some incentives. I have read that the Malaysian Investment Development Authority's incentives cover sectors such as manufacturing, chemicals, global services hub, integrated tourism projects and smart logistics. These are also some projects that Singapore wants to cover. There are also incentives for knowledge workers. Will there be mitigation measures to make sure that some of the investments that were intended to come into Singapore will not be affected.

Lastly, I have got some feedback about concerns from some sectors including the transport association where I am an advisor to. These are concerns about whether there is some impact on the transport and logistics sectors and how they might be affected by Malaysian logistics coming into Singapore.

Mr Alvin Tan: Sir, I thank Mr Saktiandi Supaat for his questions. Indeed, these are views that we have also gotten on the ground in our frequent interactions with businesses across different sectors. I have met SBF very regularly, including last week when a lot of the same views that have been shared by the Member were also shared by SBF. I was also recently in Johor, visiting the zone, meeting with Malaysian leaders. So, the discussions are ongoing. More details will be released. And we are monitoring all the impact that the JS-SEZ will have on both sides.

I wanted to take a step back and look at it from a bigger perspective and what the JS-SEZ has to offer. If we look at the global economic landscape, it is increasingly uncertain, it is dynamic, it is ever-changing. The global competition as we have seen over the last couple of weeks has intensified for talent, for trade and also for investments. So, it is imperative that if Singapore wants to be competitive, we need to be more nimble, we need to be more innovative, we need to enhance our competitive game. If executed well, the JS-SEZ will give us that additional competitive edge. It will give us the opportunity and in fact, it would give us the impetus to build on our inherent strengths. These inherent strengths are not that easy to replicate. These have been grown over decades. They are quite uniquely Singaporean. And they give Singapore that competitive edge.

These traits are inherent. For example, the strong rule of law, regulatory and political stability, innovative mindset, talent, research and development, connectivity and a strong financial centre.

First, it gives us the opportunity and impetus to build on where we are already strong, but it also gives us that impetus to make sure that what we already have, we must strengthen so that we continually have that competitive edge.

Second, the JS-SEZ will also give us the opportunity to leverage on Johor's strengths to overcome our inherent weaknesses. The weaknesses or disadvantages are well-known to everybody – it is our land, it is our manpower, it is our natural resources. So, it gives us the opportunity to build on our strengths and also to leverage the SEZ's strengths to be able to increase our competitiveness.

What is the final objective for this? The final objective is to attract new companies, new investors that hitherto may not have considered Singapore as an investment destination or potentially even maybe, Singapore is a little bit lower on their list of places to invest. It gives businesses a value proposition that hitherto may not have been there in the first place but are now then attracted to this value proposition.

To the Member's question earlier on, as I mentioned in my original reply, there are already Singapore firms that are already there, they are sited there. In our discussions with many of the Singapore firms, they do intend to have operations on both sides. They are looking at the landscape and they will make those decisions in due time. But I think the value proposition, both for the SEZ as a whole, and the unique relative and complementary strengths for both Singapore and Johor, are quite evident. 

新加坡眼旗下影片號你關注了嗎？

點選下面影片，檢視更豐富的內容！

想第一時間瞭解新加坡的熱點/突發新聞，可關注新加坡眼旗下“看南洋”微信公眾號，同步下載新加坡眼APP，不失聯。