Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Johor, Malaysia - The involvement of Brunei Darussalam in the Iskandar Development Region could very well be realised after the development corridor in Johor received a royal visit by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

His Majesty had a closer look at the Iskandar Development Region during an in depth briefing by Chief Executive Officer of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Dato Ikmal Hijaz Hashim. During the briefing the Chief Executive Officer highlighted that a delegation from the Brunei Investment Agency had earlier visited the area in March 2008.

The Iskandar Malaysia Project comprises five zones within the multi-billion dollar mega project. Each of the zone plays a vital role in establishing the five existing pillars of the project. They are electrical and electronics, petrochemical and oleo-chemical, food and agro processing, logistics and related services, with the last pillar being the tourism.

There are four other clusters' which will be implemented, Health Services, which comprises a Medical Park and Medical City; Education Services, which will feature universities and industry centric research and development clusters, whilst courses will also feature a wide variety; financial services which will see an extension of Malaysia's role in Islamic Financing and the region's premier Islamic Financial Hub; Creative Industries, with a 1,000 acre park dedicated to an extensive digital content industry, the creative entertainment hub will look to open new and available opportunities for multimedia graduates.

Earlier, the Prime Minister of Malaysia and also joint Chairman of the Iskandar Malaysia project, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that "the Sultan has indicated his desire to consider whatever investment opportunities those are available in the region. And his visit to the area also enables him to observe the development that has taken place in Iskandar Malaysia."

His Majesty took hands on approach with viewing the region, piloting a helicopter alongside HRH Tunku Ibrahim Ismail, the Tunku Mahkota of Johor. After landing in the Iskandar Malaysia region, His Majesty and the Tunku Mahkota of Johor met the Malaysia Prime Minister and a delegation from IRDA, who took His Majesty on a brief tour of the projects.

Following his visit to the Iskandar Malaysia development, His Majesty attended a luncheon hosted in his honour by Sultan Iskandar of Johor at Istana Bukit Serene in Johor Baharu. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times