Kuala Lumpur:Malaysia is set to explore international opportunities in the creative industry through co-production projects with partners in Australia and South Korea, valued at a total of US$22 million over the next two years.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir announced that the collaboration, led by OMG Studios, will involve Australia's Madman Entertainment and South Korea's Greenpatch Studio. The projects will include a Malaysia-Australia film and television production worth US$10 million and a Malaysia-South Korea feature film worth US$12 million.

These initiatives are expected to create more opportunities for local talent, vendors, studios, and intellectual property owners to engage in international productions. Akmal Nasrullah highlighted the potential for the partnership to establish the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone as a regional hub for international content, virtual production, generative artificial intelligence, and creative technologies.

Johor's proximity to Singapore, along with its strong industrial and digital infrastructure, positions the state advantageously as a regional creative-industry center. The cultural and creative industries have contributed 6.8 percent to Malaysia's GDP, generating RM130.7 billion in gross value added in 2024.

The Economy Minister emphasized the importance of Malaysia moving beyond content production to focus on owning intellectual property with commercial potential for licensing, distribution, and adaptation. He underscored the need to build a robust portfolio of characters, stories, formats, technologies, and brands capable of generating sustained value.

He also noted the success of local projects like Upin & Ipin, Mechamato, Ejen Ali, and BoBoiBoy, which have demonstrated the value Malaysian ideas can generate through content, licensing, merchandise, and market expansion.