The National Council for Special Economic Zones (KEK) is encouraging the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (BPI) (Danantara) to participate in financing the development of SEZs in eastern Indonesia.
This step is considered important to accelerate the development of the region, which has been facing accessibility and infrastructure challenges.
"At that time, there was an instruction from the President to specifically assist SEZs in eastern Indonesia," said Acting Secretary General of the National SEZ Council, Rizal Edwin Manansang, at the Indonesia SEZ Business Forum 2025 in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Edwin believes that Danantara's involvement in the development of SEZs in eastern Indonesia is crucial, considering that investors have faced various obstacles due to the lack of infrastructure, especially transportation facilities.
"Because there are indeed a few problems, because accessibility is a bit difficult. I mean transportation and infrastructure," he said.
However, the plan to develop a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the eastern region with Danantara still needs further discussion, considering that the President's directive regarding this matter has only just been conveyed and has not yet been followed up in the form of a technical decision.
"This may require further in-depth discussion, as we just received directives yesterday. So, further discussion is needed with Danantara and the relevant ministries and agencies," he added.
Currently, there are 25 SEZs that have been designated by the government, consisting of 13 industrial-based areas, eight tourism areas, three digital areas, and one other area.
With plans to add six new SEZs next year, the total will increase to 31 areas.
Previously, Danantara was directed to play a role in financing SEZs operating in the manufacturing sector.
In addition to the eastern region, Edwin also highlighted the significant opportunities in the Sei Mangkei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in North Sumatra and the Maloy Batuta Trans Kalimantan (MBTK) SEZ in East Kalimantan, which focuses on CPO downstreaming.
"This can also be encouraged because it has great potential. It's one of the downstream processes for CPO," he said at a press conference.
