Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda) has attracted RM24.97 billion worth of new investments for the region this year.

"Since January, it is encouraging to note that Iskandar Malaysia has successfully attracted new investments worth RM24.97 billion.

"In committed investments alone, Iskandar Malaysia has secured RM156.51 billion since 2006, of which 51 per cent or RM79.17 billion has been realised to date," he said in his latest Facebook entry on Thursday.

Najib, who is also finance minister, announced the approval of the 2014-2025 Comprehensive Development Plan for Iskandar Malaysia.

He said the announcement was made at the 16th Iskandar Regional Development Authority Advisory Council Meeting Thursday.

The prime minister noted that Malaysia adopted free and open economic principles based on market growth, and believed that the growth of investments in Iskandar was an encouraging testimony to the success of the country's policies.