New Batam authority board unveiled

The Batam Industrial Development Authority (BIDA), or the Batam Authority, came to an end on Monday as the Batam Zone Management Board was unveiled as the new territory authority.

The Batam Zone Management Board encompasses Batam, Bintan, Karimun and Tanjung Pinang, each chaired by Mustofa Wijaya, Mardiah, M. Taufik and Herman, respectively.

All four chairmen were inaugurated by Govenor Muhammad Sani on Monday.

BIDA was established former president Soeharto in 1971 as part of the government’s policy to develop the territory directly bordering fast-developing Singapore.

While the BIDA chairman used to be inaugurated by the president, the current body’s chairman was inaugurated by the governor.

“We hope changing the authority’s name will make for efficient work,” Sani said.

Amid complaining of the prevalent impeding regulations issued by central government, the governor suggested it should not deter investors to do businesses in Batam.

“The government promised me to revise the impeding regulations after President [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono] returned from India. There have been no follow-ups to date. Anyway, we should not sit back. Go with the regulations we now have,” he said.

Batam recorded US$2 billion of investment from 1971 to 2010. Of the amount, $5.93 billion was foreign investment.