Singapore — The business forum “Islands of Growth: Investment Opportunities and Business Regulations in the Batam, Bintan, and Karimun Free Trade Zone (BBK FTZ)” was successfully held in Singapore on Tuesday, 18 November 2025. The event brought together business leaders, government officials from Indonesia and Singapore, and key industrial estate developers, including Panbil Industrial Estate. It was jointly organized by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of Indonesia (CMEA), and the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore.
The forum highlighted the BBK region’s growing role as a strategic investment hub, supported by the strong economic performance of Indonesia’s Riau Islands Province (Kepri) and its close connectivity to Singapore. Singapore remains the largest foreign investor in Kepri, contributing 69% of Batam’s foreign direct investment in early 2024. Ongoing developments in manufacturing, electronics, digital industries, and improved cross-border mobility—such as visa-free entry for Singapore permanent residents, expanded e-gate facilities, and streamlined business regulations—continue to strengthen BBK’s competitiveness. New low-carbon industrial parks and the rapid growth of Nongsa Digital Park further position the region as a leader in green and digital innovation.
Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing BBK as a seamless and competitive investment destination through strengthened regulatory certainty, improved mobility policies, and targeted incentives. Strategic projects—including Nongsa Digital Park and expansions within the electronics, semiconductor, logistics, and infrastructure sectors—underscore BBK’s transformation into a high-value economic corridor.
During the event, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, emphasized BBK’s role as a regional growth engine, offering significant opportunities in manufacturing, digital technology, and green energy.
Representing Panbil Group, Ms. Sherly Tano presented investment opportunities across Panbil Industrial Estate, Tembesi Innovation District, and the Tanjung Sauh Special Economic Zone (SEZ). She emphasized Panbil’s integrated ecosystem and one-stop services that support efficient business operations. She also highlighted the benefits of investing under FTZ and SEZ frameworks, including duty exemptions, VAT incentives, and access to double taxation agreements.Panbil’s newest development, the 840-hectare Tanjung Sauh Industrial Park—designated as an SEZ in 2024 and listed as a National Strategic Project—will expand to 2,000 hectares and feature three hubs: an Industrial Hub for high-value manufacturing, an Energy Hub focusing on solar and low-carbon power generation, and a Logistics Hub supporting end-to-end supply chain activities.
Mr. Eugene from Sembcorp also shared updates on the Tembesi Innovation District, a 100-hectare low-carbon industrial zone jointly developed with Panbil. The district will feature a floating solar farm generating up to 200 MW, green building–certified infrastructure, renewable energy certificates, and integrated digital platforms for carbon monitoring.
The forum reaffirmed BBK’s position as an attractive destination for companies seeking supply chain resilience and cost-efficient expansion across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. It also underscored the deepening economic cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore in green industry, digitalization, and advanced manufacturing. Panbil Industrial Estate’s participation reflects the private sector’s commitment to supporting BBK’s long-term growth and fostering stronger cross-border investment.
