Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat

Jokowi's infrastructure push 'a boon for Singapore firms'

JAKARTA • Indonesian President Joko Widodo's push for infrastructure development offers a wide range of opportunities for Singapore businesses beyond traditional places such as Batam and Jakarta, as well as new industry sectors, said trade agency International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore).

These include the cruise industry, where several Singapore players in utilities and tourism infrastructure have expanded to recently, said Mr Ivan Tan, IE Singapore's group director for South- east Asia and Oceania.

One of them is marina developer SUTL Enterprise, which is working with Surabaya-based Pelindo Properti on the Boom Banyuwangi marina project in East Java.

This follows an earlier project by Genting Cruise Lines and Indonesia's state-owned port operator Pelindo III to develop berthing facilities in North Bali's Celukan Ba- wang port to receive cruise ships.

SUTL Enterprise chief executive Arthur Tay believes there is no better time than now to invest in the marina and yachting sector.

"The Indonesian government has taken great strides in recent years to make the country more accessible to visiting foreign yachts, including making them stay for longer periods of time," he said.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, First Lady Iriana, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Mrs Lee at the planting of a sunda oak tree in the Learning Forest at the Singapore Botanic Gardens yesterday. ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG

Central Java, East Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali and Nusa Tenggara have been drawing foreign and domestic investments. "While Singapore firms are concentrated within Jakarta and West Java, we see a gradual move beyond the capital city for opportunities," said Mr Tan.

South Sulawesi province in central Indonesia, for instance, is rich in cocoa and coffee raw materials, while its provincial capital, Makassar, and Lamongan in East Java are ideal for companies in the seafood industry, he added.

Plant Werx, a Singapore system integrator, set up office in Surabaya last year to work with Indonesian manufacturers across East Indonesia to improve their manufacturing processes through automation.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 08, 2017, with the headline Jokowi's infrastructure push 'a boon for Singapore firms'. Subscribe