Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto continues to encourage an increase in investment realization in special economic zones (SEZs). "The SEZ National Council hopes that the Deputy Minister of Finance and all levels of the Ministry of Finance can review the form, size and process of the facilities provided by the SEZ, especially to face global competition and attract investment in Indonesia," he said in a statement in Jakarta, Sunday. Coordinating Minister Airlangga as the SEZ National Council said that the progress of investment realization in the SEZ cannot be separated from the improvement efforts made through the Job Creation Act which covers the expansion of business activities, namely health and education services, providing incentives and facilities, institutional arrangement, electronic business licensing system and supporting activities (OSS), electronic systems for tax and customs services. The impact of these improvements, he continued, can be seen from the rapid progress of the four SEZs established in 2021 after the Job Creation Act, namely the Nongsa SEZ and the Batam Aero Technic SEZ in Batam, Riau Islands Province; SEZ Lido in West Java Province; and SEZ Gresik in East Java. The SEZ has realized an investment of IDR 29.1 trillion in one year and has absorbed 9,746 new jobs. "In the future, investment potential in SEZs can be further increased so that new job opportunities can be further expanded and increase the multiplier effect that is beneficial to the people in the region," he said.
Furthermore, Airlangga conveyed that the SEZ National Council also encouraged the implementation of the SEZ Application System in customs services which was supported by the Indonesia National Single Window (INSW). The system is expected to make it easier for entrepreneurs to exportor import raw materials and release goods or products into the country. "This system is expected to be supported by customs services 24 hours a week for several SEZs where the flow of export and import goods is quite high," he said. Business entities and business actors are also encouraged to take advantage of all the facilities and facilities in the SEZ, especially in the fiscal sector in realizing investment and increasing new investment. Airlangga also said that if there are challenges, obstacles, or problems, the Secretariat General of the SEZ National Council together with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Investment/BKPM are expected to facilitate the completion of these activities.
