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SEZ in West Java explored
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Gearing up: Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (center), accompanied by East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) governor Frans Lebu Raya (left) and NTT Public Works Agency head Andre Koreh (right), monitors the construction of Raknamo Dam in Raknamo village, Kupang regency, NTT, on Oct.30. (Antara/Kornelis Kaha)
T
he government has explored the possibility of transforming industrial hubs Bekasi, Karawang and Purwakarta in West Java into a special economic zone (SEZ), as proposed by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).
As a follow-up to a meeting between Kadin’s top bosses and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo last week, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan held a meeting on Thursday to further discuss the matter as he was appointed by the President to coordinate the plan.
The meeting was attended by National Development Planning Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro, Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Transportation Minister Budi Karya, Deputy Finance Minister Mardiasmo, Kadin chairman Rosan P. Roeslani and Lippo Group CEO James Riady, among other people.
“Kadin met with the President for almost three hours and gave many suggestions for the economy. One of them was for the government to explore the possibility of turning Bekasi, Karawang and Purwakarta into a special economic zone,” said Luhut after the meeting.
Luhut said he took a helicopter ride last Sunday to inspect the areas and viewed a model home in Meikarta, a Rp 278 trillion (US$20.5 billion) property project backed by diversified conglomerate Lippo Group.
He then requested his undersecretary for infrastructure, Ridwan Djamaludin, to carry out a preliminary study with Kadin and relevant agencies to be discussed in Thursday’s meeting.
“The result [of today’s meeting] is that Bappenas [National Devel- opment Planning Agency] and Ridwan will conduct a study for the next two weeks. Then we will see if an additional study is necessary to make a decision,” Luhut said.
