Indonesian government receives proposals for seven new SEZs

JAKARTA: The Indonesian government has received proposals to establish seven new special economic zones (SEZs), according to Rizal Edwin, acting secretary general of the SEZ National Council.

The proposed SEZs are planned for Java, Sulawesi, and the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in East Kalimantan.

During a media gathering on Monday, Edwin said the special economic zone in Nusantara will focus on providing energy to the new capital city and serving as a hub of mining activities.

He assured that the seven proposed SEZs are in demand among many domestic and foreign investors.

"One of them is proposed to become a hub of regional economic development, supplying energy to IKN," he said.

From 2012 to the end of June, investment realisation in SEZs reached Rp205.2 trillion and employed 132,227 workers.

During the first half of 2024, investments reached Rp31.4 trillion, or 40 per cent of this year's target of Rp78.1 trillion. In the same period, 15,229 workers, or just 39 per cent of the target of 38,953 workers, were employed.

Besides offering tax allowances to investors, the government is also optimising the One Map Policy to accelerate SEZ and national strategic project development.

--BERNAMA-ANTARA