Batam emerges as Indonesia’s model for Special Economic Zones

Batam (ANTARA) – Acting Secretary-General of the National Council for Special Economic Zones (SEZ), Rizal Edwin Manansang, has affirmed that Batam, in the Riau Islands province, is now considered a national model for the development of Special Economic Zones in Indonesia.

Of the 25 SEZs designated by the government to date, five are located in the Riau Islands — four of which are in Batam.

“Batam has become a benchmark for SEZ development at the national level. No other province has this many SEZs,” Rizal said during a visit to Batam on Wednesday.

He added that one of the SEZs in the city, Nongsa Digital Park (NDP), is currently seeking expansion as its existing land capacity has reached its limit.

“They plan to build four new data centers. Currently, there are already two, and they are looking to add more,” he said.

In addition to NDP, Batam has gained attention with the establishment of the Health Tourism SEZ (Parkes), formalized under Government Regulation No. 39 of 2024.

This SEZ focuses primarily on healthcare and is the second health-focused SEZ in the country, following Sanur in Bali.

“This is part of a policy transformation following the enactment of the Job Creation Law, which expanded the scope of SEZ business activities beyond manufacturing and tourism to include healthcare, education, and digital sectors,” Rizal noted.

A key initiative within the Parkes SEZ is the construction of the Mayapada Apollo Batam International Hospital (MABIH), a joint project between Indonesia’s Mayapada Group and India’s Apollo Hospitals. The hospital aims to serve a wide market — from local to international patients.

Navin Sonthalia, President Director and CEO of Mayapada Healthcare, stated that MABIH will cater to the international market and will not accept patients under Indonesia’s national health insurance scheme (BPJS Kesehatan).

“The concept of Parkes SEZs in both Bali and Batam does not include cooperation with BPJS, as these hospitals are designed to serve patients who typically seek medical treatment abroad. For BPJS patients, Batam already has the Batam Hospital managed by the Free Trade Zone Authority (RSBP), which is well-equipped,” he explained.

With the presence of MABIH, Batam is expected not only to strengthen its position as a national investment hub but also to emerge as a prominent destination for international medical tourism.

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