Singapore and Indonesia will commission a joint study on the technology sector in the Batam, Bintan and Karimun (BBK) region to transform the area into a “vibrant digital hub” that attracts investments.
Batam is currently home to the Nongsa Special Economic Zone which is currently undergoing expansion. A number of data centers are being constructed on Batam including the expansion of and new investments by data center operators DayOne and PT Equator Gate System. Meanwhile, data center platform DCI Indonesia is expanding its footprint into Bintan.
The discussions took place at the 16th Singapore-Indonesia Six Bilateral Economic Working Groups Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta yesterday. It was co-chaired by Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. Every year, the two countries meet to discuss cooperation across six areas namely investment, manpower, transport, tourism, agribusiness, and the development of the BBK region and other special economic zones.
At this year’s meeting, the neighbours agreed to step up cooperation particularly in digital economy, green energy, industrial infrastructure and agritech amid great uncertainty in the global supply chain, according to reports.
One of the projects highlighted was a partnership to develop a 200-megawatt solar facility and an 80MW battery energy storage system. The project is undertaken by Singapore’s Sembcorp and Indonesian company PT Sumber Energi Surya Nusantara (SESNA). Upon completion, it would be one of Indonesia’s largest utility-scale solar developments.
Another renewable project collaboration is Indonesia’s first biogas-to-biomethanol pilot project in North Sumatra. The parties executing the project are Singapore-based CRecTech and Indonesian state energy company Pertamina.