West Java Becomes The Biggest Investment Destination In 2020, Ridwan Kamil: Our Infrastructure Is Better Than Other Regions

JAKARTA - West Java recorded a total investment of IDR 120.4 trillion in 2020. This province is the largest contributor to investment in Indonesia. This number is equivalent to 14.6 percent nationally. West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said there are two main reasons why investors invest in the region.

Ridwan said, the main reason behind investors choosing West Java as a place of investment is that the infrastructure in this region is better than other regions.

"I conducted several surveys with investors, the results were for many reasons, the two main reasons why they are happy (investing) in West Java are one because they have infrastructure that is considered better than other regions," he said, during the 'Accelerated Economic Recovery' webinar, Tuesday, January 26.

Including, said Ridwan, the presence of Patimban Port. In fact, he said ambassadors from various countries had contacted him to propose cooperation in the development of 13 industrial cities in the Patimban area.

"It went viral all over the world. I (got) a lot of questions from the ambassador because I wanted to work together. Because Patimban is in metropolitan Rebana, a new area where there will be 13 new industrial cities that we will conceptualize. Wherein the industrial city should has the concept of live, work and play. So it's not just a collection of factories. But it becomes the center of human civilization," he said.

Currently, said Ridwan, West Java has three metropolitan cities. First, Bodebek joined Jabodetabek. Second is Bandung Raya, and the third is Rebana with 13 new industrial cities.

The second reason from investors besides infrastructure, said Ridwan, is the level of productivity of workers or the people of West Java. Based on the survey he conducted, the West Java population is considered the most productive in Indonesia.

Furthermore, Ridwan Kamil said, investors admit that the wage issue is not always the number one issue but also productivity. In fact, he said, there were investors who had moved from West Java, but returned because productivity in other areas was not as good as that of West Java.

"We maintain these two things for maximum investment and we hope that additional infrastructure for several toll roads, including the fast train, hopefully will be completed in two years," he said.