He was accompanied by Mida chairman and Senior Political Advisor to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, who is also the former Investment, Trade and Industry Minister.
During the announcement, Johor’s approved investment value of RM110 billion for last year had surpassed other states such as Selangor at RM83.9 billion, Kuala Lumpur (RM63.3 billion), Penang (RM32.9 billion) and Kedah (RM27.8 billion).
Lee said Johor’s success is no coincidence and is the result of a combination of having the right timing, location and development strategy.
He said the world is currently undergoing major changes such as the restructuring of global supply chains, the rapid development of the digital economy and the transition to green energy.
“Johor is moving in line with national development policies such as the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
“At the state level, all these efforts are systematically driven through the Maju Johor agenda and the Johor Economic Transformation Programme, which are the main frameworks to accelerate the state’s economic development,” he said.
Earlier, it was reported that Malaysia recorded RM426.7 billion in approved investments for last year, the highest level ever, up 11 per cent from RM384.4 billion in 2024, reflecting continued growth despite a cautious global climate.
Mida said Malaysia’s performance is anchored in tangible project commitments: 8,390 approved projects across the services, manufacturing, and primary sectors, expected to generate 244,902 new jobs.