"The 20 SEZs that have been operational have managed to record success and make contribution, as evidenced by the cumulative investment value reaching Rp167.2 trillion as of the fourth quarter of 2023," Acting Secretary-General of the National SEZ Council, Susiwijono Moegiarso, noted in the statement.
Moegiarso made the statement on the occasion of the SEZ National Working Meeting 2023 in Tanjung Kelayang SEZ, Belitung District, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, on Tuesday (December 12).
Moegiarso, who concurrently serves as the ministry's secretary, highlighted that the SEZs had also succeeded in creating a total of 113,038 new job opportunities this year, adding that the zones had continued to deliver various achievements that support Indonesia's economy.
In addition to drawing investment, he remarked that the SEZs had helped the government promote downstream processes, produce new business actors, and empower a significant number of workers.
"The strengthening of the certainty and clarity of policies applicable in SEZs is expected to bolster the quality of investment climate in the zones and rope in more business players, especially those from abroad, to invest their capital in Indonesia," he remarked.
In his speech, Moegiarso stated that the national working meeting serves as a forum that brings together SEZ stakeholders from across Indonesia, including representatives from central and regional governments as well as business actors.
All participants are expected to evaluate performance of SEZs this year and devise working plans aimed at boosting performance of SEZs in 2024, with the goal of stimulating national economic growth.
He then drew attention to the Tanjung Kelayang SEZ, as the host for the meeting, saying that the zone is part of the Belitong UNESCO Global Geopark and is located strategically between Jakarta and Singapore.
The Tanjung Kelayang SEZ had also been successful in hosting the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting last year. Moreover, in the first quarter of 2023, the zone succeeded in hosting two events held under Indonesia's chairmanship in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
"The SEZ National Working Meeting 2023 in Tanjung Kelayang SEZ is surely providing Indonesia with a crucial momentum to formulate plans dedicated for realizing sustained economic growth while promoting Belitung as a brilliant SEZ representative in the global arena," Moegiarso concluded.
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Translator: Bayu S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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