Bekasi-Cikampek Deserves to be a Special Economic Zone

By : Herry Barus And Aldi Firhand. A | Monday, October 30 2017 - 21:24 IWST

Menko Kemaritiman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan event topping off two towers first Meikarta (Foto Ist)

INDUSTRY.co.id - Cikarang - Coordinating Minister for Marine Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said that the area in the eastern corridor of Jakarta, Bekasi-Cikampek deserves become a special economic zone (KEK), considering that this corridor is integrated with the largest industrial area.

For that, it will invite owners of industrial and developer area in Bekasi Regency to discuss the future of the region.

Special economic zones are regulated in Law No. 39 of 2009 on Special Economic Zones. Under the Act, special economic zones are defined as areas with certain limits within the jurisdictions of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia which are established to perform economic functions and obtain certain facilities.

"This region is worthy of being a special economic zone, there are 14 special economic zones, only three are successful and one will go ahead. We think back now, which region can be a special economic area as long as it meets these criteria, we will examine whether this area, this corridor, will be an integrated industry. So, indeed Jakarta or Java is already being considered, the president has started to provide direction to make Jakarta integrated with Bandung We do not think only five years ahead, but we think until 2045. Java will be a city of its own If this happens, the design of transportation, settlement design, water design, design of all kinds must be done from now, "said Luhut on the sidelines of the topping off of the first two towers of Meikarta, in Cikarang , Bekasi Regency, Sunday (29/10/2017).

The Ministry will conduct an integrated study of the industrial estate in Bekasi Regency, including the Meikarta region.

"We will conduct an integrated study, with our immediate infrastructure deputies, next Monday and Sunday we will listen to the exposure of the owner of the area (in Bekasi District) to its current position, so that in the next one month we will be able to make a decision for this region, "he said.

President Meikarta Ketut Budi Wijaya said, Meikarta will transform into a new economic center in the Corridor Jakarta-Bandung. According to him, currently, 60 percent of the national economy is located in the Jakarta-Botabek area (Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi) to Bandung.

"As many as 70 percent of them are in the center of Bekasi-Cikarang," he said. "With the population going to reach 15 million in the next 20 years."