Indonesia’s Special Economic Zones: Progress and Lesson Learned

INDONESIA STUDIES PROGRAMME

About the Hybrid Seminar

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Indonesia serve as strategically located hubs designed to attract investment, drive industrial development, and boost exports, all with the aim of fostering regional economic growth. These zones offer a range of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to encourage infrastructural development, job creation, and technological advancement.

As of 2024, Indonesia has established more than 22 SEZs across regions such as Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. Noteworthy zones like Mandalika and Batam have become pivotal in sectors like tourism, industry, and logistics. However, despite the promising growth of SEZs, several challenges persist. These include inconsistent regulations, land acquisition difficulties, and inadequate infrastructure. Furthermore, the integration of SEZs into the broader national economic strategy has been hindered by disparities in regional economic capabilities and the varying priorities of private institutions.

This seminar will explore the recent progress of select SEZs, as well as the obstacles they face. Our speaker will also shed light on the potential economic and geostrategic roles that SEZs are poised to play in the coming years.

About the Speaker

Adiwan Aritenang, is an Associate Professor and Program Director for Postgraduate studies in the Urban and Regional Planning Program at Institut Technology Bandung (ITB). Dr. Aritenang is also the President of the Indonesian Planning School Association (IPSA). He completed his PhD from Bartlett School of Planning, University College London (UCL), United Kingdom, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Singapore. His research interests are decentralisation and infrastructure issues in urban and regional development, creative and digital economies, and urban informality.

Registration

This is a hybrid event which will be held at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS).

Attending the Event In-person at ISEAS

To join the event in-person at ISEAS, please register via the ISEAS mobile app, available on iOS and Android via the Apple or Play store. Search “ISEAS” to find or scan this QR code.

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Seating capacity is limited. Do register early to avoid disappointment.

Attending the Event Virtually via Webinar

To join the event virtually at the specified date and time using your internet devices, please register here to receive your unique login link for the webinar via the zoom platform.

If you have questions for the speaker, please key in your questions via the Q&A, stating your name and affiliation. The moderator will field them to the speakers during the Q&A session.