Malaysia is set to undertake RM89.7 million worth of co-production projects with industry partners from Australia and South Korea over the next two years, strengthening opportunities for local talent and creative businesses to participate in international productions.
Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the collaborations, led by OMG Studios, involve Australia’s Madman Entertainment and South Korea’s Greenpatch Studio.
The two projects comprise a US$10 million Malaysia-Australia film and television production and a US$12 million Malaysia-South Korea feature film.
“Over the next two years, they will develop and produce projects with a combined value of US$22 million,” he said at a press conference after officiating KL20 @ Johor 2026: The Orange Economy Chapter – Creativity Reimagined at Iskandar Malaysia Studios in Iskandar Puteri today.
Akmal Nasrullah said the collaborations were expected to create more opportunities for Malaysian talent, vendors, studios and intellectual property (IP) owners to participate in international productions.
The partnerships could also strengthen the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) as a regional hub for international content, virtual production, generative artificial intelligence and creative technology.
He said Johor’s proximity to Singapore, together with its industrial and digital infrastructure and strong regional connectivity, provided an advantage for developing the creative economy.
Malaysia’s cultural and creative industry contributed about 6.8% to gross domestic product and generated RM130.7 billion in gross value added in 2024.
Akmal Nasrullah also said Malaysia needed to move beyond producing creative content towards owning IP that could be licensed, distributed, adapted and commercialised.
He said ownership of characters, stories, formats, technology and brands could allow Malaysian creative businesses to generate value over a longer period.
Local franchises such as Upin & Ipin, Mechamato, Ejen Ali and BoBoiBoy demonstrate how Malaysian ideas can generate value through content, licensing, merchandise and international market expansion.
