....SEZs are expected to continue to serve as new economic growth sources in the hopes of providing contributions to national and regional economies
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs stated that investment realization in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) reached Rp8.5 trillion (US$568 million) in 2023, with 54 additional entrepreneurs operating in the zones and 10.91 thousand workers absorbed.

The information was revealed by the ministry's Secretary General for Economy Susiwijono, who concurrently serves as Acting Secretary General of the SEZ National Council.

"Hopefully, the figure will keep increasing in line with our country experiencing an improvement in the investment climate, macroeconomic fundamentals, and the increase in confidence (of investors) to our country," Moegiarso noted in an official statement on Saturday.

So far, the government has designated 20 locations as SEZs that comprise 10 Industrial SEZs and 10 Tourism SEZs.

In 2020, the SEZ investment realization had hit Rp113.3 trillion (US$7.5 billion), thereby translating to an increase of 51.8 percent on an annual basis, with 269 business actors becoming operational and as many as 66.74 thousand workers absorbed.

On Friday (June16), Moegiarso inaugurated the first six high-ranking officials to work as SEZ administrator chiefs. He expected the officials to be able to not only serve their duties in permit services but also in supervising and controlling operations of SEZs.

"Even though we are still facing uncertain challenges in the future, SEZs are expected to continue to serve as new economic growth sources in the hopes of providing contributions to national and regional economies," he remarked.

The SEZ administrator chiefs are also expected to facilitate the country in its efforts in achieving the target of SEZ development.

"God Willing, SEZs will really play their role as new economic growth sources, aiming to stimulate economic growth in regions," he remarked.

Law Number 39 of 2009 on SEZs and Law Number 6 of 2023, as one of its amendments, stipulated that the SEZ National Council has the task of forming administrators.

The administrators will work to provide permit and non-permit services needed by business actors operating in SEZs in addition to supervising and controlling SEZ operations.

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Translator: Sanya Dinda, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Sri Haryati
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