IDR Joint Ministerial Committee to meet for first time this weekend

By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia Posted: 19 July 2007 1901 hrs

SINGAPORE: The first meeting of the Singapore-Malaysia Joint Ministerial Committee on the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) in Johor will be held this weekend.

Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo told Channel NewsAsia that National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan and Transport Minister Raymond Lim will meet their Malaysian counterparts on the joint committee.

Mr Yeo said that at this weekend meeting in Johor, the Singapore delegation will bring up some practical problems.

He said: "I believe that with the present spirit of cooperation goodwill, we should be able to do something to promote easier flows between the two sides, which would be good for the IDR.

"If there were no borders, then water will find its own level and a lot of the economic growth in Singapore will spill over into the IDR, which will lower our own costs. It will be good for Johor. It will be good for Singapore. Both sides will benefit. The pie will grow faster and there will be plenty to be shared.

"But, of course, there is a border, there is a fence. So the water doesn't flow completely and there is a certain pressure difference, but to the extent that there is connectivity and ferocity, that is good for both sides."

Since the announcement of the joint Singapore-Malaysia Ministerial Committee on the Iskandar Development Region, several business delegations and groups from the chambers of commerce have visited the IDR to see some of the investment opportunities the area offers.

Mr Yeo said: "Our people are curious, they are intrigued by the project. They have gone up and taken a sceptical approach, asking many questions. And I believe that some have come to the conclusion that the IDR is good for them, for their company, for SMEs, for potential investors. They will have to weigh the risks very carefully and make their own decisions. But it is a plus."

Mr Yeo cites the Singapore-Malaysia cooperation in the IDR as an example for ASEAN to show that countries are much better off when they work together.

He hopes this would spur the 10-member grouping to work towards one economic space with minimal friction for the movement of people, goods and services. - CNA/ir