Introductory Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Limited Cabinet Meeting on Free Trade Zone and Free Port in Batam, Bintan, and Karimun, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, 19 January 2016
Unofficial English Translation
AssalamuÂ’alaikum warrahmatullahi wabarakaatuh,
This is the fifth limited cabinet meeting on Free Trade Zone and Free Port in Batam, Bintan, and Karimun.
Once again, I have said many times that we are entering the era of competition. Therefore, we need breakthrough measures to revitalize a number of Special Economic Zones (KEK) in Batam, Bintan, and Karimun , as well as other zones.
All Special Economic Zones should offer attractiveness, have competitiveness and advantages. So, we need to identify and make bold moves to solve the problems, to overcome the barriers that make it difficult for those Special Economic Zones to be built and developed well.
In Batam, the dualism of the authority and management of the region between Batam Regional Government and Batam Industrial Development Authority (BPBatam) has posed some problems concerning legal certainty for investors, infrastructure development, permits suspension, and manpower.
I want these problems to be solved immediately, and I would like to call Coordinating Minister for Economy to offer us some options to solve the problems.
You have the floor. (Humas) (AW/YM/Naster)