APKASI and IBA Push for Integrated Investment Promotion through PPID in Batam

Local government efforts to attract investment are now directed through a single gateway. The Association of Indonesian District Governments (APKASI) together with the Indonesia Business Association (IBA) held two sessions of meetings on 15 and 17 April 2026 in Batam to follow up on the implementation of the Regional Investment Promotion Centre (PPID). Around 50 regents and local government representatives attended this forum, marking a new push towards a more integrated investment promotion model. PPID is designed as an ‘investment service mall’ that consolidates various regional potentials in one space. In this centre, districts can display their regional profiles, flagship commodities, and collaboration opportunities to prospective investors. With this concept, investors no longer have to scour hundreds of regions separately, but can simply visit Batam to directly assess various opportunities. APKASI General Chairman, Bursah Zarnubi, described the presence of PPID as the answer to the classic obstacles in regional investment promotion. ‘Investment is the key to accelerating development and job creation. PPID becomes an integrated showcase so that regional potentials are more easily accessible to global investors,’ he said on Saturday (18/4). This forum took place in two sessions. The first session was led by Bursah together with IBA Chairman, Shan Shan. The second session was continued by APKASI Deputy General Chairman, Delis Julkarson, who highlighted the fiscal pressures on regions due to the decline in Regional Transfers (TKD). This condition, he said, is pushing local governments to seek alternative financing sources, including through Public-Private Partnership (KPBU) schemes. In that context, investment is directed not only at conventional sectors like mining and agriculture, but also at new renewable energy. The utilisation of idle land for developing solar power plants (PLTS) and integrated commercial areas is one of the options offered. APKASI Executive Director, Sarman Simanjorang, underlined three main issues that have long limited regional attractiveness: the lack of commodity data bases, weak global connectivity, and insufficient follow-up on investor interests. According to him, PPID and KPBU schemes are designed to address these issues systematically. During the forum, the local leaders raised relatively uniform challenges: limited budgets and the unavailability of a platform capable of directly connecting local governments with investors. As a result, the needs and standards of investors are often not fully understood by the regions. Through IBA’s involvement, regions are beginning to gain access to international investor networks, particularly from China and Hong Kong. IBA Chairman, Shan Shan, said his side is pushing for a more concrete approach. ‘We are no longer talking concepts, but execution—from data to real action. PPID becomes a business matching centre between local leaders and investors,’ he said. Financing support also came from Bank Tabungan Negara, which outlined financing schemes that local governments can utilise to prepare supporting investment infrastructure. This two-day meeting did not stop at the level of discourse. Most of the regents present have secured slots for representative offices in PPID as an initial step. Batam, in this case, is positioned as a new hub that brings together regional and investor interests in a more structured promotion ecosystem.