Singapore will be aiming to work out "practical problems" with the Iskandar Development Region during the inaugural Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee meeting this weekend in Johor.

Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said his delegation, consisting of the Singaporean national development minister and transport minister, would be raising the "practical problems".

Yeo said his committee "should be able" to find ways to enhance co-operation on both sides for the benefit of the IDR and both countries.
"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,

"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," said Yeo, according to Channel News Asia.

The IDR, a 2,217 sq km area in south Johor, has been identified as a new growth area which would also complement Singapore's economic growth.

Curious about IDR

The committee was formed soon after a retreat between Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his counterpart Lee Hsien Loong in May.

Since the announcement of the committee, Yeo said several business delegations and groups from the chambers of commerce have visited the IDR to view investment opportunities.

"Our people are curious, they are intrigued by the project. They have gone up and taken a sceptical approach, asking many questions.

"I believe that some have come to the conclusion that the IDR is good for them, for their company, for SMEs, for potential investors," he added.

Yeo described the two country's effort in the IDR as an example of how Asean countries are able to cooperate.