Negeri Sembilan is a prime destination for investors, boasting bountiful resources and impressive features that make it an attractive location for robust business activities.
With its abundance of opportunities, this Malaysian state offers plenty of potential for success.
Located close to the bustling metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan is a veritable treasure trove for businesses looking for dynamic and promising opportunities.
With excellent roadways connecting it to KLIA, Port Klang and Singapore – not only by land but also by air or water routes – this state offers endless possibilities.
In addition, Negeri Sembilan's industrial parks are well-maintained with vast road networks, stable power, water and gas supplies, as well as competitive telecommunications infrastructure.
To ensure that the state continues to enjoy these amenities, an investment arm known as INVEST NS has been set up by the state government to empower investors in establishing new ventures and growing their current operations in the state.
Between January and September last year, the state recorded an astounding total of RM8.72 billion in investments, with RM6 billion derived from foreign investors, riding on the manufacturing sector's recovery.
The state government, which is currently helmed by Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Haji Aminuddin bin Harun, has set eyes on a greater flow of investments into Negeri Sembilan, projecting over RM10 billion of total investments this year.
In realising the goal, YBhg. Dato’ Hj. Najmuddin Sharif bin Sarimon, CEO of INVEST NS, said the state is banking on implementing various high-impact investments, including in the electric vehicle industry, Halal development project, semiconductor and advanced electronic industries, aerospace industry, maritime development and digital-driven industries such as data centres.
“Last year, the state government signed an agreement with Turkish Aerospace Industries, an aerospace and defense company based in Turkey, to establish a helicopter assembly plant at the Malaysia Vision Valley (MVV 2.0).
“We expect this project as well as our future investment to not only bring about a substantial investment but accelerate the state’s economic development through generating quality job opportunities for people in the state,” he added.
“I would also like to highlight other exciting new additions to Negeri Sembilan. These include an industrial park to be developed in Techpark @ Enstek (Phase 3) that focuses on halal hub projects, the Sg Gadut Industrial Park that will be a new high-tech park, and also a new digital centre in Seremban 3,” he stated.
Aspiring world-class metropolis
A new development region in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia Vision Valley (MVV), is an integrated economic zone that complements Greater Kuala Lumpur and the National Conurbation such as Cyberjaya and Putrajaya, concentrating on economy, business and job opportunities based on clean technology.
Currently regarded as Malaysia Vision Valley 2.0 (MVV 2.0), the development is pushing the boundaries of prosperity in Negeri Sembilan through strategic clustering that encourages balanced growth throughout its districts through equitable success for all areas.
MVV 2.0 was launched under the National Physical Plan (NPP) to promote Negeri Sembilan as a world-class metropolis that can boost the state's growth to further pinnacle and increase its revenue contribution to the national GDP.
The development surrounds 379,087 acres of land in the districts of Seremban and Port Dickson for the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP), a local extension of MVV 2.0 that will hugely consolidate the high-tech manufacturing, tourism, education and research and services sectors.
The area of development is being divided into four distinct parcels - Tech Park, Smart County, NS Aerospace Valley (NSAV) and Integrated Maritime Hub and Waterfront Corridor.
The state government has introduced its investment strategy, the NS Integrated Concept Masterplan which began in 2021, spanning the next 25 years to fully modernise the state.
Meanwhile, as part of the state’s focus on the digital economy, it has launched the Negeri Sembilan Digital Economy Blueprint 2027 last year, aimed at developing a digital-centric economy. The Blueprint focuses on improving the digitalisation of government services, nurturing the state's digital sector and enhancing citizens' access to digital tools and services.
Digital agriculture to the fore
The state’s Digital Economy Blueprint detailed that agriculture is one of the industries that will be given prioritisation in the adoption of advanced digitalisation. Smart farming will be adopted in areas such as advanced climate-forecasting, crops monitoring, soil investigation and sensing technologies.
Digital adoption is part of a new approach to agriculture in the state – one that also encourages agropolis development with integrated land use and the exploration of different crops for improved agro-food, said Dato’ Hj. Najmuddin Sharif.
In addition, there will be a new modern high-tech cattle breeding project and smart agri to be developed in Gemas, which offers potential for high value growth to the state.
“Negeri Sembilan is a beautiful state in Malaysia with an attractive environment for businesses. Many MNCs have found their footing there, taking advantage of its cost-effective industrial land prices, as well as the wide range of manufacturing opportunities.
“It stands to reap great rewards from land optimisation, offering the potential for high-value growth as it navigates genetic engineering advancements,” Dato’ Hj. Najmuddin Sharif said, adding that the advantages could attract a multitude of kindred biotechnology firms into quality breed commercialisation.
The state government is also making great strides to ensure the preservation and enrichment of its unique biodiversity.
A state park with a research facility, plant conservation centre and eco-tourism activities incorporating cultural heritage will be nestled within this environment, protecting valuable natural resources while giving citizens an exciting opportunity to explore their very own backyard.
Bright future ahead
Negeri Sembilan is quickly becoming an investor's paradise, with its vibrant pool of educated young people and plentiful educational resources. In the near future, this Malaysian state will be transformed as it harnesses the potential of its youth population to create new jobs and opportunities for growth.
Further, corporations that are enthusiastic about pursuing new projects or expanding existing ones in Negeri Sembilan can access a wide variety of lucrative tax and non-tax incentives.
“The state is now experiencing a renaissance. Thanks to the keen eye of investors who recognise its strategic location near major industrial hubs, it's quickly becoming one of the most popular destinations in Malaysia, fueling growth and opportunity for both local and global businesses alike. These investors’ confidence in the state greatly reflects our motto, ‘Trust Us, Grow With Us’,” said Dato’ Hj. Najmuddin Sharif.
