Batam Expecting US Investment in Semiconductor Industry

Businessmen from the United States are starting to set their sights on Batam, Riau Islands. Batam as a free trade area is considered to have a business community close to Singapore and has promising long-term prospects, especially in the high-tech industrial sector, such as the semiconductor industry and new and renewable energy (EBT).

This was revealed by the Managing Director of Global Business Services World Trade Center Utah, Dustin Daugherty. He is one of a delegation of businessmen from Utah, USA. Prior to Batam, they had also visited Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore.

"We are from Utah, coming to see policies related to investment here. Batam is close to the business community in Singapore. The market is also wide, besides having a free trade area. Industrial development is also good, very promising for the future," he said when visiting Wiraraja Industrial Estate in Kabil, Nongsa, Batam.

After visiting Wiraraja Industrial Estate, the delegation of Utah businessmen moved to the Nongsa Digital Park (NDP) Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nongsa, Batam. Achmad Makruf Maulana, President Director of Wiraraja Industrial Estate, said that the visit of the Utah business delegation was a return visit. Previously, Makruf, who is also the Chairman of the Riau Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), visited Utah, United States at the end of February.

The focus of the potential investors is to invest in the high-tech manufacturing industry sector, particularly semiconductors and their derivatives. "They want to produce in Batam and then re-export to America," Makruf said. There will be eight companies that will enter Batam and have given conditions to provide 200 hectares of land.