Banten Provincial Council Eyes Batam Investment Promotion Model
Efforts by local governments to penetrate global markets through investment channels are being tested once again. Commission I of the Banten Provincial Council visited the Central Office for Regional Investment Promotion (PPID) in Batam on Thursday (9/4) to explore inter-agency collaboration models in driving the optimisation of regional potential.
The delegation, led by Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the Banten Provincial Council Muhammad Faizal, was accompanied by Secretary of Commission I Umar Bin Barmawi and several other members. They engaged in direct dialogue with PPID managers, alongside representatives from the All-Indonesia District Governments Association (APKASI) and the International Business Association (IBA). Also present was APKASI Executive Director Sarman Simanjorang.
During the meeting, PPID was introduced as an integrated investment promotion platform resulting from the initiative of APKASI and IBA. This scheme is designed to bridge the needs of regional governments with networks of international investors and buyers, which have previously been deemed limited.
PPID managers revealed that several classic obstacles still face regions in attracting investment, ranging from limited access to global markets and restricted credible investor networks to suboptimal management of assets and flagship commodities.
“PPID is expected to serve as a connecting hub between regional interests and global business actors,” stated one of the managers in their presentation.
Batam was chosen as the location for the PPID headquarters due to its status as a free trade area and international free port. This position is considered strategic for positioning Batam as a showcase of Indonesia’s regional potential in the eyes of foreign investors, while also opening broader export opportunities.
Chairman of IBA Indonesia’s Youth Wing, Bobby, emphasised the importance of collaboration between regional governments, associations, and business actors in building a sustainable investment ecosystem.
“We are striving to provide a bridge between regional governments and global buyers and investors,” he said.
According to him, a collaborative approach is key to ensuring regions do not operate in isolation when marketing their potential. With broader network support, opportunities for increasing regional own-source revenue (PAD) and job creation are seen as increasingly open.
Nevertheless, the effectiveness of platforms like PPID still depends on the readiness of each region. Beyond promotion, factors such as regulatory certainty, ease of permitting, and infrastructure quality remain primary considerations for investors.
This visit is hoped to serve as the initial gateway for the Banten Provincial Council to adopt or adapt a similar model in developing investment in its region.
Amid increasingly tight competition in attracting investment, regions are compelled not only to offer potential but also to ensure a conducive ecosystem. PPID represents one effort to address these challenges—though its success will still be tested in on-the-ground implementation.