Indonesia Seeking To Boost Batam-Bintan-Karimun Area Development

Bogor, W.Java, Mar 14 (ANTARA) - The government of Indonesia will boost the growth of special economic zones of Batam, Bintan and Karimun and for that invite the Singapore government and businesses to invest and develop trading in the region. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a press conference at the presidential palace in Bogor, West Java after meeting with the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong Tuesday said Indonesia hoped with the participation of the Singapore government and businesses the special economic zones would grow to give economic benefits to the community. President Yudhoyono said the governments of Indonesia and Singapore have established working groups one of which is tasked with discussing bilateral cooperation in the economic special regions of Batam, Bintan and Karimun. "We invite our partners from Singapore to invest there. For the development of agribusiness, for example, Singapore requires supply of vegetables and fruits," the president said. According to him in areas near Bintan, Batam and Karimun, there are also areas of economic cooperation between the governments of Malaysia and Singapore. If they want to be competitive Bintan, Batam and Karimun should have a good system and competitiveness including a good atmosphere for business and investment," he said. "In Bintan, Batam and Karimun obviously we have a lot potentials. In Johor there is a zone of cooperation between Malaysia and Singapore that could be a rival for Bintan, Batam and Karimun. I invite all of the elements in this country to grow the regions and so let us create a good atmosphere there," said the president. President Yudhoyono explained in the past year trade cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore increased by 33 percent compared to that of the previous period. The trade value between the two countries currently reaches US$40 billion. The President said under the conditions there were still a lot of opportunities that could be developed for the mutual benefit of the two parties.