April 15, 2025 | 02:56 pm
TEMPO.CO, Batam - Batam, located in the Riau Islands, Indonesia, now boasts a new international port: the Gold Coast International Ferry Terminal Bengkong. Officially opened on Monday afternoon, April 14, 2025, the port is expected to boost the influx of foreign tourists to the city.
The inauguration ceremony, held in front of the port on the reclaimed Bengkong Batam coastline, was attended by several prominent figures, including National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), and Johanis Tanak, Vice Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) of Indonesia.
The port is owned by Batam entrepreneur Abi.
Besides the three high-ranking officials from central agencies, several other officials were also seen at the inauguration, from the Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad, Mayor of Batam also Head of the Batam Indonesia Free Trade Zone Authority Amsakar Achmad, to several other regional politicians.
In his address, Sigit stated that port development must be supported to realize a prosperous Indonesia. Sigit also mentioned that Batam and the Riau Islands have natural resource advantages that can be well managed through downstreaming in Batam.
He said, "This will certainly create a large number of jobs, and it must be carefully guarded."
Sigit also requested the regional government and port officials to be vigilant against human trafficking and drug smuggling through the port, as the crime rates are still high in Batam.
He said, "This new port is indeed one of the efforts to boost tourism. We must ensure that it is not misused by certain parties to the detriment of the people of Batam."
Before the inauguration, AHY said that Kepri or Batam is receiving attention because of its strategic location, being close to the Malacca Strait, which accounts for 70 percent of international trade routes.
"All of this is through the sea," AHY said.
In addition, Batam or the Riau Islands also have abundant natural resources. "Despite the high economic growth rate in Batam, there must be an equal distribution," he said.
The Head of the Batam Indonesia Free Trade Zone Authority and Mayor of Batam, Amsakar Achmad, hoped that this international port could bring benefits to Indonesia and the Riau Islands, and make a real contribution to the city of Batam.
"The economic growth of Batam is heavily dependent on mobility access, especially since Batam was designated as the center for Meeting, Incentive, Convention, and Exhibition (MICE), and the city has become one of the top three contributors to foreign tourist visits," said Amsakar.
In 2024, Amsakar said, the number of foreign tourists who had visited Batam reached 1.3 million, up by 11 percent from 2023, which was around 1.13 million.
"Meanwhile, the target for foreign tourist visits in 2025 is 1.7 million," he said.
Amsakar viewed this inauguration as opening the door for an increase in tourist visits to the city of Batam. "On behalf of Mr. Abi as the owner, I express my gratitude to all of us," he said.
The inauguration was marked by a simultaneous button-pressing ceremony. Abi also symbolically presented plaques to the invited guests, including the National Police Chief, AHY, and the Vice Chairman of the KPK, Johanis Tanak.
The entourage also had the opportunity to visit the port area, but the media personnel were prohibited from joining the entourage.
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