Batam Strategic Optimization is a Key to Boost National Investment Growth: House

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Lawmaker from the Budget Committee of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puteri Komarudin, is pushing for the optimization of the strategic Batam region in the Riau Islands province to spur national investment growth.

She said that investment realization in the first quarter of 2026 (Q1 2026) continues to rise, supported by investor confidence in Batam, which holds Free Trade Zone (FTZ) status.

Puteri stated that various strategic zones in Batam are expected to drive the development of the manufacturing, construction, trade, and logistics industries. Optimizing these zones is considered crucial for sustaining investment growth in Batam.

“Various strategic zones, such as the Nongsa Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the Batam Aero Technic SEZ, and the International Health Tourism SEZ, are expected to drive industrial growth,” Puteri said in a statement on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

Puteri expressed supports foro the Batam Development Agency’s (BP Batam) efforts to develop a regional digital economic hub through the Data Center project.

“This represents a strategic opportunity that we must pursue together so that the benefits can be felt by the community, particularly regarding technology transfer schemes,” she said.

Puteri also called on the Directorate General of Customs and Excise and the Directorate General of Taxes at the Ministry of Finance to evaluate the effectiveness of fiscal incentives in Batam.

“This is crucial to ensure that the fiscal incentives provided are commensurate with their benefits to the local economy, and to measure their effectiveness in driving investment and their impact on job creation,” said Puteri. (Gusti Panji)