Japan is one of the countries expected to make major investments in Batam."
Batam (ANTARA News) - The Batam Management Authority (BP Batam), in cooperation with Nikkei Kogyo Shimbun, organized a seminar and business gathering in Nagoya, Japan, to promote investment in the free trade zone of Batam.

"Japan is one of the countries expected to make major investments in Batam. So we organized an activity in Nagoya, Japan, on Friday, June 12, to promote investment," Purnomo Andinatono, the director for promotion and public relations affairs of BP Batam, said here on Wednesday.

Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun is a leading daily newspaper that focuses on the development of business and technology in Japan as well as on information on business economics. It also provides information for industries in Japan.

"Some 70 Japanese businesspeople attended the gathering. They welcomed the promotional activities organized by BP Batam," he added.

The seminar was attended by Deputy Chief of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo Ben Perkasa Drajat, BP Batam Head Mustofa Widjaya, Public Service Deputy Chief Fitrah Kamarrudin, Director of Promotions and Public Relations Purnomo Andiantono, Director of Lalu Lintas Barang Tri Novianta Putra, Perwakilan BKPM Tokyo, Saribua Siahaan, Liaison Officer BP Hajime Kinosita, and 70 Japanese businesspersons.

According to Andinatono, Ben Perkasa Drajat stated in his address that the seminar was a useful platform for providing information on Batam to Japanese investors.

In line with the planned implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), Batam, as a free trade zone, will offer investors opportunities to enter the ASEAN market, which has a base of 600 million people.

On the occasion, Mustofa Widjaya also painted a picture of business opportunities in Batam for the participants of the seminar.

Japanese investment in Batam involves 60 companies, such as Shimano, Epson, Shumitomo, Toyokaretsu, and Yokohama Rubber Company.

"BP Batam has a representative office in Osaka to facilitate access for investors in Japan. Batam also has a region named the same as a city in Japan, Nagoya," he pointed out.

Widjaya further noted that with the availability of infrastructure like airports, seaports, roads, communication facilities, electricity, clean water supply and fiber optic networks, Batam guarantees that investors will carry out their businesses well and be committed to supporting investment activities in Batam.

Furthermore, in his capacity as the liaison officer of BP Batam, Hajime Kinosita explained that Batam was a place for investment because it has various facilities.

Investors who intend to set up businesses in Batam no longer need to go to Jakarta to procure business permits. Since 2006, Batam has a one-door integrated service (PTSP) where all processes related to obtaining business permits can completed in one PTSP building, which is the Sumatra Promotion Centre.

Moreover, during the business gathering, BP Batam also invited representatives of Yokohama Rubber Company, which had made a large investment in Batams Kabil Industrial Park.

They also told participants that even though Batam island had received less attention from the central government in the past, it had developed great business potential since the formation of the Batam Management Authority with its strategic location.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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