In response to the diminishing land availability on Batam’s main island, Mayor Rudi has outlined a strategic initiative to leverage the surrounding islands to sustain the influx of investments into this bustling hub of industry, residency, and tourism.
With Batam’s main island nearing its capacity, Mayor Rudi, who also serves as the Ex-Officio Head of the Batam Industrial Development Authority (BP), is setting his sights on the administrative region’s numerous islands to continue attracting investments.
The immediate plan includes accelerating development on Rempang Island, with provisions to extend activities to Galang Island as demand necessitates.
Beyond areas with existing Free Trade Zones, the strategy includes potentially utilizing up to 340 islands under Batam’s administration to diversify and expand industrial zones.
Tanjung Sauh is poised to become a new industrial and container port hub, strategically positioned between Batam and Bintan islands, bolstered by significant investment plans from the Panbil Group.
The projected investment for developing Tanjung Sauh alone is nearly SGD 16.6 billion (approximately Rp 200 trillion), highlighting the scale and ambition of Batam’s developmental plans.
The plan includes improving infrastructure and connectivity between islands, ensuring each development is sustainable and beneficial to the economic ecosystem of Batam.
Batam’s expansion into its surrounding islands promises new opportunities for business and tourism. This strategic diversification not only enhances Batam’s appeal as a prime investment location close to Singapore but also aims to provide a significant boost to the local economy through job creation and infrastructural development.
Mayor Rudi announces plans to maximize investment opportunities by developing surrounding islands in Batam, including Rempang and potentially Galang, with major projects like Tanjung Sauh’s industrial port in the pipeline. This move aims to sustain Batam’s growth trajectory and expand its economic footprint in the region.
Source: RRI (2024)
