The largest drone zone in Southeast Asia is now open in Johor

Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) announced the opening of a Drone Test Site (DTS) in Medini, which is also claimed to be the largest in Malaysia and in Southeast Asia. According to IIB, the new launch is “in line with the vision of Drone & Robotics Zone Iskandar (DRZ Iskandar) to create the leading drone and robotics eco-system as a growth engine for the region”.

“I am pleased that IIB has managed to strengthen Medini’s position as Johor’s Digital Hub with the opening of this Drone Test Site. The State Government welcomes all drone technology players in Malaysia and the region to set-up their businesses here. It also gives me great pleasure to know that this initiative will attract emerging tech talents, gig economy workers and contribute towards new job creation for Johoreans,” said Johor’s Chief Minister YAB Dato’ Haji Hasni bin Mohammad.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that DRZ Iskandar aims to attract 70 drone and robotics companies, as well as create 1,000 high-value jobs in the drone and robotics industry by 2025 in Johor. The development of the DTS is expected to “spur the local economy, benefiting surrounding communities and entrepreneurs”.

“IIB has spent close to RM4 million since the inception of DRZ Iskandar and the State of Johor has also allocated a sizeable budget for the development of the drone and robotics ecosystem. The State Government will continue to facilitate all related initiatives for DRZ Iskandar as we move forward with the State’s overall digital economy agenda,” he added.

The DTS launched features two sites measuring approximately 25 acres (DTS 1) and 1,700 acres (DTS 2) respectively. DTS 1 caters for “visual line of sight” flights while “beyond visual line of sight” flights—the first of its kind in Malaysia, will be carried out in DTS 2. The area aims to “fast-track the testing of locally developed drone-powered solutions in the NTIS sandboxes” and “elevate Malaysia’s visibility in the regional and global drone tech industry”.

DRZ Iskandar was launched back in December 2020. IIB president and chief operating officer Datuk Khairil Anwar Ahmad said that exploration in drone and robotics technology could be utilised in various economic sectors—like security, agriculture, logistics and other various branches.

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