A bird’s-eye view of shipyards in Batam, Indonesia. (Image credit: Reuters)

Indonesia plans to build the country’s longest 7km sea bridge near Singapore

Faradita Prayusti
Politics & Economic
Economic
Jul 12, 2019
2662
On Thursday, July 11, Indonesia government through the cabinet secretariat announced the country’s plan on building a 7 km (4.35 mile) bridge to link Batam island and Bintan island– islands in Malacca Strait, nearby the neighboring country Singapore.

The purpose of constructing the bridge is to enhance trade, especially with Singapore, while the country is now expanding Changi Airport with the establishment of a new Terminal 5. There will be transport connections between Terminal 5 and Bintan Island.

Indonesia government expects the bridge could encourage further economic growth in the country by expanding industry and tourism field in the two islands.

Since Batam and Bintan contiguous to Singapore, the bridge is hoped to increase the number of tourists and attract business from Singaporean companies to Indonesia Island.

Indonesia and Singapore have been worked together via private sector mutual benefit over the past few years, both. A large-scale technology park in Batam was one of the collaboration projects launched last year, with an intention as a “digital bridge” between the two countries.

Batam and Bintan island are also major shipping routes due to their strategic location. Indonesia government is optimistic if the country could gain advantages from the trade war between Trump and Xi as Batam island is the only free trade zone in Indonesia.

Head of Batam Development Body, Edy Putra Irawady said Indonesia is empowering Batam Island to pull occasions arising from the US-China trade dispute.

This year, one of Apple’s biggest suppliers from Taiwan, Pegatron – an electronic manufacturer will open its first factory in Batam to dodge the impact of the trade war.

The bridge does not only become the longest in Indonesia but also in Southeast Asia, with an estimated cost of $284.35 million (IDR 4 trillion), according to the cabinet secretary said in a statement. The construction will start in 2020 and it is predicted to be completed in three or four years later.

Currently, the government is looking for possibilities to link Peninsular Malaysia with Sumatra – one of the Indonesian islands, according to Danang Parikesit, head of the country’s toll-road regulator.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-bridge/indonesia-to-build-countrys-longest-bridge-linking-islands-near-singapore-idUSKCN1U6157

Indonesia , Singapore , Southeast , Asia , Bridge , Batam , Bintan , Economic