Riau Islands administration is offering potential tourism investments to Turkish investors, especially in the eco-tourism sector. The province is known for its high tourism potential, strategic location and beautiful scenery.
The archipelagic province is strategically located in the world’s busiest shipping lanes in the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea. Riau Islands’ largest city of Batam is neighbor to Singapore, which is only an hour by ferry. The province is famous for its richness in mineral and marine resources.Â
Investment offerings
Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad said during his visit to Turkey that the Indonesia’s province was geographically strategic as it neighbors Singapore and Malaysia. It is also located in the international trade route. He also added that Riau Islands’ position had a similarity with Turkey, which is situated between Europe and Asia.
“We offer [eco-tourism] especially the development of tourism in the Bintan Resort area, Nongsa Point and Bawah Anambas Island and Natuna,” Ahmad said in a press statement on October 19, 2022.
Tourism has been a driving force in the province’s economy and has become a favorite place for tourists. Riau Islands is the third largest contributor of foreign tourists after Bali and Jakarta.
Apart from tourism, the province also offers potential opportunities in industrial zone development such as the Batam Industry of Free Trade Zone, Karimun Industry of Free Trade Zone, Bintan Industry of Free Trade Zone and Tanjungpinang Industry of Free Trade Zone. Other industrial zones are also on offer such as the Special Economic Zone (KEK) of Galang Batang, Nongsa Digital Park and Batam Aero Technic.
“We are ready to support the arrival of businessmen from Turkey to Riau Islands to survey the conditions directly for the actual potential of investments in the area,” Indonesian Ambassador for Turkey, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, said.
Ahmad said his administration would provide incentives to investors such as ease of doing business and safe investment.Â
Risks in Riau Islands
Just like other areas in Indonesia, Riau Islands are prone to flood and landslides due to abrasion in the smaller islands. Floods and landslides contribute to infrastructure damage. Flood is mainly caused by poor water management in some places.
According to the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) Riau office, in 2021, floods and landslides had been caused by the extractive permission on the opening of forest areas even in small islands.
Riau WALHI Executive Director, Riko Kurniawan, said the catastrophes were mostly caused by human intervention that causes environmental damage.
In 2020, Riau Islands suffered from environmental problems. Infrastructure and economic development have also impacted the area. Human activities have damaged coral reefs in the province’s waters. The coral reefs mortality percentage such as dead coral algae (DCA) reached 42.33% death rate, diseased coral (DCOR) at 0.07%, old dead coral (ODC) at 2.34%, and recently dead coral (RDC) at 3.28%.
