Samota Being Prepared as Special Economic Zone, New Investment Magnet in Eastern Indonesia

The Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM is targeting Samota (Saleh-Moyo-Tambora) in Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), to become a new investment magnet in Eastern Indonesia. Samota is currently being proposed to become a Special Economic Zone (KEK).

Deputy Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/Deputy Head of BKPM, Todotua Pasaribu, stated that Samota is not only intended to become a new destination but must also be an attractive investment area, particularly for long-term investment.

“The proposal to develop the Samota KEK must be placed in a broader context. This area must be able to serve as an instrument to optimise regional advantages while supporting the direction of national investment policy, which pays attention to productive sectors, including tourism, the blue economy, the green economy, creative industries, agro-maritime, as well as strengthening connectivity and logistics,” Todotua said in a written statement on Sunday (26/7).

Samota needs to be supported by investment ecosystem readiness to become a KEK, ranging from land certainty and infrastructure to the presence of investors ready to realise their investments.

He also observed that West Nusa Tenggara Province holds an increasingly strategic position on the national investment map. This is reflected in the investment realisation in NTB from 2021 to the second quarter of 2026, which reached approximately Rp 216.7 trillion. Specifically for the tourism sector, cumulative investment realisation from 2023 to the first half of 2026 reached Rp 190 trillion.

As a new investment area, Todotua also assessed that Sumbawa Regency possesses strong capital. One factor is its location near the Indonesian Archipelagic Sea Lane (ALKI) II.

With this position, Sumbawa’s location is considered strategic as a regional logistics and distribution hub connecting the western and eastern parts of Indonesia.

“Granting KEK status is not the final goal. The most important thing is to ensure that the area is economically and financially viable, has land certainty, possesses a clear business plan, is supported by adequate infrastructure, and has investors ready to realise their investments,” he said.