Batam's exports reach $3b

BATAM (Antara): The country's export of various commodities from the Batam industrial zone has increased significantly from time to time and in the first nine months of this year the export value from the zone has surpassed the export value of the same period of last year, an executive said here over the weekend.

Indra Syahferi, executive director of the Batam Industrial Development Authority, said that export value from Batam up to the end of December is expected to exceed the US$3 billion mark.

He said that from January to September 1996, the export realization from the industrial zone was recorded at $2.7 billion, higher than those of the same period of the previous year which stood at $2.3 billion.

He admitted that the export values from January to September 1996 were fluctuating ranging from more than $200 million to $430.14 million and the lowest was recorded in February which stood at US$192.55 million.

According to Syahferi, all industries on Batam island are export-oriented and most of them are multinational companies.