Jakarta, June 17 (Antara) -- Batam island, which is one of the leading
industrial regions of Indonesia and Asia, is promoting its investment
potentials to attract foreign investors, particularly Japanese
companies.
"Japan is one of the countries expected to make major investments in
Batam. So we organized an activity in Nagoya, Japan, on Friday, June 12,
to promote investment," Purnomo Andinatono, the director for promotion
and public relations affairs of the Batam Management Authority (BP
Batam), said on Wednesday.
In cooperation with the Japanese daily Nikkei Kogyo Shimbun, BP Batam
organized a seminar and business gathering in Nagoya, Japan, last Friday
to promote investment in the free trade zone of Batam, which is located
close to Singapore.
Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun is a leading daily newspaper that focuses on the
development of business and technology in Japan as well as on
information on business economics. It also provides information for
industries in Japan.
"Some 70 Japanese businesspeople attended
the gathering. They welcomed the promotional activities organized by BP
Batam," Andinatono added.
Last month, the Japanese consul in Medan, North Sumatra, Hirofumi
Morikawa, visited BP Batam to explore investment potential in the Batam
Free Port and Free Trade Zone.
The Japanese consul assessed that Batam was one of the leading
industrial areas that has developed in Indonesia and the Asian region,
Andiantono stated.
"Hirofumi Morikawa visited Batam on Thursday (May 21). He gathered
current information on the Batam Free Port and Free Trade Zone," he
revealed.
Andiantono had told the Japanese consul about the development of
infrastructure facilities in Batam such as airports, ports, roads,
communications, electricity, water supply, and information technology.
"We laud the visit. We want Japan to improve the investment climate here," he remarked.
Andiantono further he noted that investors can invest and conduct
business activities here properly as the local government provides
security and facilities.
"The growth of infrastructure in Batam is very important for Japan
before it invests in a variety of fields," he emphasized.
Regarding infrastructure, BP Batam explained the facilities to Japanese
investors during the gathering in Nagoya last week.
Head of BP
Batam Mustofa Widjaya noted during the seminar that with the
availability of infrastructure like airports, seaports, roads,
communication facilities, electricity, clean water supply and fiber
optic networks, Batam guarantees that investors will be able to carry
out their businesses well and be committed to supporting investment
activities in Batam.
After all, investors who intend to set up businesses in Batam no longer
need to go to Jakarta to procure business permits. Since 2006, Batam
has a one-stop integrated service (PTSP) where all processes related to
obtaining business permits can completed in one PTSP building, which is
the Sumatra Promotion Centre.
Widjaja added that PTSPs were available for investors wishing to invest in the area.
In the 1980s, the electronics industry began to develop in Batam,
triggered by shortage of land in Singapore. The growth of the
electronics industry was followed by that of investments in shipyard and
shipbuilding in the 90s.
During the business gathering in Nagoya, BP Batam also invited
representatives of Yokohama Rubber Company, which had made a large
investment in Batam's Kabil Industrial Park.
They
also told participants that even though Batam island had received less
attention from the central government in the past, it had developed
great business potential since the formation of the Batam Management
Authority with its strategic location and can serve as the gateway to
the ASEAN region for businesses.
In
line with the planned implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community
(AEC), Batam, as a free trade zone, will offer investors opportunities
to enter the ASEAN market, which has a base of 600 million people.
In
addition to the ASEAN region, Batam is now ready to become an
investment destination in the Asia-Pacific region, as well.
"When
the economies of European nations and the United States slow down,
investments will focus on the Asia-Pacific region under the initiation
of China. Batam is one of the good alternatives for investments. It is
very appropriate for investment purposes in the Asia-Pacific region,"
Mayor of Batam Ahmad Dahlan said in Batam on Monday.
During
the business gathering in Nagoya, Widjaya also painted a picture of
business opportunities in Batam for the participants of the seminar.
Japanese
investment in Batam involves 60 companies, such as Shimano, Epson,
Shumitomo, Toyokaretsu, and Yokohama Rubber Company.
"BP Batam has a representative office in Osaka to facilitate access for
investors in Japan. Batam also has a region named the same as a city in
Japan, Nagoya," he pointed out.
Furthermore, to provide information on investment opportunities in
Batam, the Batam Management Agency is developing an application to
provide a map of spatial and regional investment opportunities in the
free port and free trade zone.
This app will be based on a geospatial information system to help
investors seeking information on business opportunities in the region.
"This application is being designed for investors who need a map of
Batam for information on land, spatial planning as well as locations of
schools. We will launch the application this year," Head of the Regional
Development and Planning Bureau of Batam Irfan T. Widyasa said on
Tuesday.
Once launched, the application can be accessed on both computers and smartphones, he added.
The early stage of the application service will be limited to a map.
Later, the service will be enhanced with a geospatial information system
that will display information on land use for investment in Batam.
"The application will be launched this year for all mobile device
platforms. It will be available on Blackberry App World, iOS App Store,
Google Play and Windows Phone Store," Widyasa affirmed.
***3***
(T.A014/INE)
EDITED BY INE
(H-YH)
(T.A014/A/BESSR/A/Yosep) 17-06-2015 19:38 |
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