Samota SEZ Prepared as New Investment Magnet in Eastern Indonesia

The government is preparing the Samota (Saleh-Moyo-Tambora) Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), as a new investment area expected to attract investment in the tourism and blue economy sectors in Eastern Indonesia. Deputy Minister for Investment and Downstreaming/Deputy Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Todotua Pasaribu, stated that the development of the Samota SEZ must be supported by a strong investment ecosystem, ranging from land certainty and infrastructure availability to investor readiness to realise their commitments. According to him, the proposal for the Samota SEZ aims not only to present a new tourist destination but also to build an investment area capable of creating economic added value, attracting long-term investment, and opening quality employment opportunities. Todotua emphasised that investment is one of the main drivers of national economic growth. The government is targeting investment realisation of Rp 13,032.8 trillion throughout 2025–2029 to support an 8% economic growth target by 2029. Up to the first half of 2026, investment realisation has reached Rp 1,040.3 trillion, or 49.5% of the 2026 target, absorbing more than 1.4 million workers. He noted that West Nusa Tenggara Province holds an increasingly strategic position in the national investment map, with cumulative investment realisation from 2021 to the second quarter of 2026 reaching approximately Rp 216.7 trillion. The development of the Samota area is also reinforced by a provincial regulation on spatial planning that accommodates the zone’s development. Todotua assessed that Sumbawa Regency has strong capital to develop as a new investment area, with its location around the Indonesian Archipelago Sea Lane II making it a strategic node for regional logistics and distribution. He added that granting SEZ status is not the final goal, but rather ensuring the area is economically and financially viable, has land certainty, a clear business plan, and ready investors.