JOHOR BARU: Iskandar Malaysia has recorded total cumulative committed investments of RM75.96 billion as of the first half of this year.

Of this, the realised investments as of June 30 stood at RM30.47 billion, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) Ismail Ibrahim said.

He said of the RM75.96 billion, 60 per cent or RM45.48 billion is from local investments, while the remaining 40 per cent from foreign investments.

In a press statement, he said to date, Iskandar Malaysia's top three foreign investors are from Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Ismail said the transformation of Iskandar Malaysia into a vibrant economic centre, come 2025, is progressing according to schedule.

He added that IRDA continues to pursue foreign investment awareness and recently had participated with the International Trade and Industry Ministry and the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority in trade missions to the UK, the US, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Brunei.

Ismail said early next month, 100 senior government officials and business leaders from Wenzhou Province, China, will visit Iskandar Malaysia to explore trade and investment opportunities.

"As we continue to reach out to the region for awareness and to woo new investors, Iskandar Malaysia, facilitated by IRDA, is the platinum sponsor of Global Entropolis@Singapore in October.

"This is the premier business leaders' event in the region, looking to offshoring their core services while discovering new ideas for wealth creation," he said.

Ismail pointed out that the RM500 million KSL Resort in Johor Baru will open for business by the end of this year.

The resort will boast a 5-star hotel with 1,000 exclusive rooms and suites, a shopping mall, an expo hall, five cinemas, as well as a Tesco outlet and other retail outlets.