New industrial zone coming to Batam

BATAM ISLAND, Riau (JP): Indonesia will develop a 400-hectare industrial estate here in cooperation with countries which have populations originated from Asian nations to accommodate high- technology industrial activities.

"Four countries -- Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia -- have been grouped in a organization called Forum Komunikasi Usaha Serantau (Fokus), which will sponsor the establishment of the industrial estate," the director for aerospace, aviation and telecommunications of PT Bukaka, Rahmat Ismail, told reporters.

He had just attended a ceremony for the signing of an agreement on the establishment of PT Batam Aircraft Maintenance here over the weekend.

He said the organization will invite more countries, including Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Suriname and South Africa, to join in the project.

"We intend to encourage people of Indonesian descent in Suriname and South Africa and other countries to take part in Fokus, which was formed just last year," He said.

According to Rahmat, who was appointed as the secretary- general of Fokus' Indonesian chapter, institutions of the four countries are now holding meetings to prepare for the establishment of the industrial estate.

He said the institutions in the four countries are the Center for Information on Development and Economic Studies (CIDES) of Indonesia, Pengembangan Keuangan Ekonomi Negeri Johor (PKENJ) of Malaysia, Singapore's Association of Moslem Professionals and Brunei's Ministry of Industry and the foundation of the University of Sultan Bolkiah.

Rahmat said that Bank Muamalat of Indonesia supports the plan by providing an office at the center of Batam island.

He also said that five companies, including PT Bandar Mardi Perkasa of Jakarta, Mataram Group of Yogyakarta, PT Citra Harapan Perkasa of Jakarta and Gema Group of Jakarta, will be the main parties in the consortium from Indonesia, which will also include a fifth company.

"We already have a plot of land in Tanjung Umah in the southwestern part of Batam and we will hold a road show in the middle of next year to introduce the project," he said.

Batam, which is located some 20 kilometers southeast of Singapore, will soon have six bridges connecting it with surrounding islands. (icn)