Airlangga Calls Malaysia And Singapore Jokowi's SEZ Policy Jiplak

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs (Menko) Airlangga Hartarto. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said Malaysia and Siamapura are now plagiarizing the Indonesian Special Economic Zone (SEZ) policy, as successful as attracting investment in and boosting economic growth.

Airlangga said that the SEZ policy in Indonesian industrial areas only existed during the administration of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). He said there was no such policy in the previous government.

"We also convey that the special economic zone has succeeded in attracting investment and neighboring countries are looking to copy this Presidential Decree policy. The agreement has just been signed between Prime Minister Lawrance Wong and Anwar Ibrahim. All just for a match with us," he said, quoted from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Wednesday, August 7.

Currently, said Airlanga, Indonesia already has 22 SEZs spread from Aceh to Papua. He also said that until the first semester of 2024, the investment had reached Rp205.2 trillion and absorbed 132,277 workers.

"From the SEZ, there are 12 industrial SEZs including the Kendal SEZ," he said.

Airlangga revealed that 105 industrial players have entered the Kendal SEZ with a total investment of IDR 55 trillion per year.

"With the presence of the Kendal SEZ, this contribution to growth in Kendal is 42 percent, and the per capita income in Kendal is 52 million per year, with growth of 8 percent," he explained.

In fact, Airlangga said that the Batang Integrated Industrial Zone (KIT) which is predicted to be the largest industrial area in Central Java will become a SEZ.

"And yesterday the President's directive was that our Batang will also make a SEZ," he said.

Credibility Is The Basis For Investor Confidence

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan revealed that Indonesia would have competitors, because Malaysia and Singapore were developing a special economic zone (SEZs), or a special economic zone (KEK) in Johor, South Malaysia.

"We will have competitors in the development of SEZs from Johor and Singapore, which earlier this year will be signed by the special economic zone corridor. Where Johor will create competitive land and energy resources, where Singapore supports the high quality of human resources," he said, quoted from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Wednesday, August 7.

Luhut admitted that he was not afraid to compete with the two countries. He said Indonesia was ready to compete with Malaysia and Singapore in accordance with the direction of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

"Mr. President always says we are competitive, we have to compete, we are not afraid to compete with them. Because we also have good capital and strength and credibility of the trust we have built so far," he said.

With stiff competition, continued Luhut, credibility has a central role. He said Indonesia cannot compete to bring in investors if it only relies on incentives.

This 'credibility' is very important, because it will be a basis of trust for investors. We can no longer compete with neighboring countries just relying on incentives," he said.

"Not only incentives, but credibility and trust are key factors that we must maintain," he continued.