REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BATAM -- The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry, led by Deputy Director General of East Asia Region Tanee Sangrat, visited Batam, Riau Islands province, to study the development of Batam as one of the nation's leading industrial zone.
"We are interested in the development of Batam city as one of the leading industrial zones. We want to explore its potentials in order to continue cooperation," Sangrat said here on Friday.
The Thai visit was assisted by the Embassy of Thailand to Indonesia in Jakarta.
"The development of Batam as an industrial area in Riau Islands could be very influential in promoting the growth of investment in Indonesia and also for economic development in the region. Therefore, we would like to know more about how Batam is being developed," Sangrat said.
Head of Technical Plan Bureau Imam Bachroni explained that the development of Batam has been underway since 1970.
"The early development of Batam was focused on the development of major infrastructures, such as water supplies, electricity, communications, roads, airports, and ports to facilitate the inflow of investments," he remarked.
In addition to FTZ (free trade zone) status, Batam is also being developed to provide convenience to entrepreneurs and help them conduct business in Batam.
The Thai delegation will visit several sites to see first hand the development in Batam, which has become the region?s leading industry and investment zone in Southeast Asia.