"I have discussed it with the investors. They plan to invest Rp1.5 trillion to develop a tourist object in Pulau Bawah," he said here on Thursday.
He said Pulau Bawah has an undersea natural beauty which is good for being developed into a snorkeling and diving area.
"The development of Pulau Bawah is also aimed at developing a prime economic driver in the tourism sector," he said.
Sani said negotiations were still going on such as with the district administration of Anambar, the customs service and other offices concerned which are expected to conclude in September 2011.
"The development is expected to take 1.5 years to complete while the operation is expected to start in 2013," he said.
Sani said the marine tourist object is expected to be able to attract 5,000 foreign tourists at the initial stage and create jobs for the local population.
The governor said the province needs around Rp12 trillion to increase economic growth over the next five years.
The province`s economic growth at present was recorded at 7.2 percent. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono meanwhile has asked for the growth to reach 10 percent.
Sani said investors were also interested in developing tourist objects in Pulau Kepala Jeri and Pulau Janda Berhias in Batam with an investment of Rp2 trillion.
Riau Islands borders Vietnam and Cambodia in the north, Malaysia and West Kalimantan province in the east, Bangka Belitung islands and Jambi provinces in the south and Singapore, Malaysia and Riau province in the west.
The Sumatran province with a population of more than 1.6 millions consists of more than 2,000 big and small islets and some of them are not populated yet.(*)
H-YH/HAJM/A014
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
