Minister Counselor of the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore, Berlianto Situngkir, told Antara here on Tuesday that the program was held by the Indonesian Embassy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, and supported by Batam Management Agency and the local administration.
During the trip, the ambassadors visited Infinite Studio and Nongsa Digital Park. Here, the ambassadors were explained about creative industries developed at Infinite Studio, especially for film and animation productions, with international standard.
The digital industry in Batam was inaugurated by the Indonesian and Singaporean Foreign Ministers, and has been used by around 60 startups, including for education and training programs.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore, Ngurah Swajaya, stated that the economic potential in Batam is not only tourism but also digital economy industry, shipyards, and electronics industry. Besides those potentials, Batam also serves as a transportation hub in the region.
The Ambassador`s Familiarization Trip, which was held since 2016, invited ambassadors from various countries to visit Batam and Bintan.
These two areas are alternative destinations for short-term and weekend vacations for families, embassy staff members, and people who live in Singapore.
Meanwhile, Singapore`s Country Manager of Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Office (WITO), Sulaiman Shedek, invited the ambassadors to call their people in Singapore to visit Batam.
In 2017, more than 1.5 million foreign tourists from Singapore visited Indonesia, of which around 884 thousand Singaporean tourists chose Batam as their destination.
Singapore`s investment in Batam is recorded to be high. From 2013 to 2018, Singapore`s investment in Batam has been recorded at more than US$1 billion.
In particular, the ambassadors were received by the President Director of Citramas Group, Kris Wiluan. He was ready to collaborate with any parties to increase the foreign investments and the number of foreign tourists visiting Batam.
Swajaya believed that good cooperation between government agencies as well as local authorities and administrations will make Batam one of the main investment and tourism destinations for Singaporeans.
Reporting by Zeynita Gibbons
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
