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alu: Palu Deputy Mayor Andi Mulhanan Tombolotutu said 57 investors recently expressed interest in investing in Palu, Central Sulawesi, if the central government designated it as a Special Economic Zone (KEK).

According to Mulhanan, the 57 large-scale companies that are ready to invest in Palu included a Volvo component manufacturing company, packaging companies and a number of other leading companies.

“The Volvo company is even ready to relocate its plant to Palu in the near future. They have met with the KEK National Council and pushed for the establishment of a KEK in Palu,” he said.

The investors were keen to invest in the Palu KEK, he added, due to Palu’s strategic geographic location facing the Makassar Strait, which is an ALKI 2 shipping route and national, regional and international gateway. The MP3EI map includes Palu city as part of the eastern Indonesian economic hub within the Sulawesi Economic Corridor (Corridor 4).

Mulhanan said Palu was strategically located due to its proximity to export destinations, such as Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea. Central Sulawesi also immediately borders East Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, North Maluku and Gorontalo provinces.

Besides its strategic location, Palu KEK is within the Pentoloan Port area, so a flyover will be built later to connect the core industrial area with the port.

“All its potential and strategic benefits can serve as an engine of growth in accelerating Palu’s growth and competitiveness,” said Mulhanan.