Training centres urged to collaborate to produce more skilled workforce

JOHOR needs to start enhancing and strengthening its training centres to produce more semi-skilled, skilled and knowledgeable workforce to cater to investors’ needs, says a former mentri besar.

Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad, who is now Johor Economic Tourism and Cultural Office (Jetco) chairman, said the need for skilled workers was especially critical for the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

Once the JS-SEZ takes off, many job opportunities will be created, he said.

“Ensuring enough workforce for potential investors is crucial if we want to see the JS-SEZ succeed,’’ he told StarMetro in an interview.

Hasni urged training centres in the state not to work in silos, adding that they should collaborate to benefit Johor’s economy.

He said the existing public sector training centres in the state should cooperate with those from the private sector in offering reskilling, upskilling and training for workers.

Hasni urged the Johor Skills Development Centre, Johor Strategic Human Capital Unit and Johor State Entre-preneurs Corporation to take the lead in producing more semi-skilled, skilled and knowledgeable workers.

“Public and private sector collaboration will create a win-win situation and is good for everyone involved,’’ he said.

Hasni said Johor also needed to attract more capital intensive and high-tech investments if the state wanted the JS-SEZ to be successful.

He said as a state entity, Jetco could play a role as a facilitator for Singapore investors planning to invest in the JS-SEZ.

“Johor has the right ecosystem to attract Singapore investors and our close proximity with the republic is also an added advantage,’’ he added.

Johor has proposed 16 economic sectors for the special economic zone, namely electrical and electronics, medical, pharmaceutical, aviation, speciality chemicals, logistics, healthcare, education, finance and business services, energy, digital economy, tourism, food and agricultural technology, creative industry, halal industry and manufacturing.

The Jetco office based in Singapore began operations in the first quarter of 2021 to pave the way for direct investments between Johor and Singapore.