The Royal Thai Embassy made a strategic visit to the Batam Indonesia Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam) on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. Led by the Thai Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E Prapan Disyatat, the delegation was warmly received by Endry Abzan, Head of Policy Harmonization and Performance Management, along with Benny Syahroni, General Manager of the Passenger Port Business Unit, and other officials.
Ambassador Prapan expressed his appreciation for the warm reception, emphasizing the significance of the visit in exploring economic collaboration opportunities with BP Batam. The primary focus of this visit was to gather specific information regarding business processes at the Batu Ampar General Terminal.
Ambassador Prapan stated that this visit laid the groundwork for potential economic cooperation with BP Batam and would contribute to strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and Thailand.
Endry Abzan, Head of Policy Harmonization and Performance Management, welcomed the Thai Embassy’s interest in investment opportunities, particularly during BP Batam’s substantial development of the Batu Ampar Port. This development aims to enhance Batam’s competitiveness as an international logistics hub.
Batu Ampar Port is now equipped with a state-of-the-art STS Crane produced by Korin Corporation from South Korea, capable of handling up to 35 container boxes per hour. This enhancement will significantly reduce waiting times, improving efficiency at the Batu Ampar General Terminal.
Furthermore, Batu Ampar boasts a container yard spanning 4 hectares, with a target expansion to 20 hectares. The business operations at Batu Ampar Terminal are driven by a commitment to providing top-notch services to port users.
In a separate statement, Ariastuty Sirait, Head of Public Relations, Promotion, and Protocol Bureau, expressed optimism that foreign investments in Batam would continue to rise by the year’s end. BP Batam’s efforts to position Batam as a prime investment destination have garnered the trust of several major nations.
For Singaporean investors and international visitors, Batam’s growing status as an investment hub signifies increased opportunities for economic collaboration and trade partnerships. Singapore, in particular, has recorded substantial foreign direct investments in Batam during the first half of 2023.
The Royal Thai Embassy’s visit to BP Batam signals a potential boost in economic cooperation between Thailand and Indonesia. With significant developments at the Batu Ampar Port and increasing foreign investments in Batam, the region is poised to become a thriving international trade and investment destination.
Source: Batam Pos (2023)
