April 29, 2025 | 07:26 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Regime change is often accompanied by controversial projects, as is the case with Prabowo Subianto. Many people are turning their attention to Rempang Eco City, an ambitious undertaking to develop Rempang Island in Batam, Riau Islands, into an industrial, trade and tourism area.
While this may appear to be beneficial economically, the project has been widely rejected by thousands of residents from 16 villages in Rempang, as they are being forcibly relocated and their land taken.
To get a better understanding of Rempang Eco City, continue scrolling to discover a brief, yet helpful explanation of the project.
Profile of Rempang Eco City
Rempang Eco City is a project once listed in the National Strategic Projects (PSN) of 2023, before it was proven to be excluded from the list of President Prabowo Subianto’s 77 PSN, laid out under Presidential Regulation No. 12 Year 2025 on the National Medium-Term Development Plan Year 2025-2029.
Planned to be developed on Rempang Island, Batam, this project is aimed at boosting Indonesia’s economic standing alongside neighboring Singapore and Malaysia, with the construction of an area of about 165 square kilometers. Behind the development is a partnership between the national government—represented by the Batam Free Trade Zone and Free Port Authority (BP Batam)—and the Batam City Government with PT Makmur Elok Graha (MEG).
As quoted by Bisnis.com, the total investment is valued at Rp381 trillion and projected to create jobs for around 306,000 workers.
Facilities of Rempang Eco City
Rempang Eco City will feature a wide range of facilities designed not only to attract visitors but also to prioritize environmental sustainability. According to Bpbatam.go.id, the development will include a total of seven different zones, including Rempang Integrated Industrial Zone, Rempang Integrated Agro-Tourism Zone, Rempang Integrated Commercial and Residential, Rempang Integrated Tourism Zone, Rempang Forest and Solar Farm Zone, Wildlife and Nature Zone, and Galang Heritage Zone.
In essence, Rempang Eco City aspires to become one of Indonesia’s premier ecotourism destinations. It will offer expansive parks, dedicated bicycle lanes, and a pedestrian-friendly environment.
Surrounded by mangrove forests, the area will still incorporate modern infrastructure for convenience and comfort, including world-class hotels, high-quality restaurants, shopping malls, entertainment centers, and a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) center.
Objectives of Rempang Eco City
One of the main objectives of Rempang Eco City is none other than to attract Singaporean tourists, given its strategic and close proximity. Increased tourist arrivals are expected to bring significant benefits to the local economy and community—through rising investment value, sustainable development opportunities, new job creation, and tourism-related income.
While the project offers clear economic advantages, it is also seen as a step toward strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and Singapore, both culturally and economically.
Editor’s Choice: Rempang Eco City Excluded from Prabowo's List of 77 National Strategic Projects
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