|
New Date: Chicago Investor Briefing on Southeast Asia's New Expanded Special Economic Zone (off Coast of Singapore) to be Held - Oct. 31, 2008
 New York, New York - September 17, 2008 - The Province of Riau Islands in cooperation with Baker & McKenzie, the American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (AICC) and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Chicago invite internationally-focused investors, executives, financial and service professionals, journalists and other interested individuals to attend an Investor Forum highlighting emerging trade and investment opportunities within Southeast Asia's New Expanded Special Economic Zone (SEZ), located 12 miles off the coast of Singapore in Indonesia. This meeting will be held without charge on October 31, 2008 from 8:30 AM-11:30 AM and hosted at the Chicago offices of Baker & McKenzie, One Prudential Plaza, 130 East Randolph Drive, Chicago, Illinois. Supporting organizations include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The United States - Indonesia Society, World Trade Center Illinois, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the International Trade Association of Greater Chicago. Supporting publications include Asia Times, EE Times, Electronics Supply & Manufacturing and the KWR International Advisor.
To register to attend the Riau Island/Batam New Expanded Special Economic Zone Investor Briefing in Chicago on October 31, 2008 or to obtain more information, please CLICK HERE to forward a registration or information request or contact the individual indicated below.
 Registration will commence at 8:30 AM at which time a continental breakfast will be served and the program will begin promptly at 9:00 AM. Speakers will include: Drs. Ismeth Abdullah, Governor of the Kepri Riau (Riau Islands) Province and Former Chairman of the Batam Industrial Development Authority where the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is located; Duane J. Gingerich, Director, B & M Consultants; Richard N. Pigossi, Founder & Chairman of Pegasus Capital, a Singapore-based financial advisor and long-time investor in Indonesia; Wayne Forrest, President of the American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce; Stephanus M. Suwaryanto, Acting Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Chicago and Diono Nurjadin, Chairman, US Committee, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and President, Cardig, Indonesia. The event will conclude at 11:30 AM, followed by scheduled one-on-one meetings with Governor Ismeth Abdullah and other members of the Riau Island / Batam delegation.
 Strategically located adjacent to the Indian and Pacific Oceans off the coast of Singapore, the Riau Island/Batam New Expanded SEZ is composed of the three islands of Batam, Bintan and Karimun. It is perhaps the most attractive manufacturing, industrial and logistical platform in ASEAN and the second most popular international tourist destination in Indonesia. Collectively these three islands exported goods worth a total of $4.24 billion during 2006, and during the first four months of 2007 exports rose dramatically to $2.19 billion from $1.86 billion in the same period in 2006.
 Southeast Asia's New Expanded SEZ builds on the prior success of Batam, which has enjoyed limited Free Trade Zone status since 1978. Due to its strategic location and proximity to Singapore, low cost structure, skilled work force, excellent logistical facilities and tax and other investment incentives, over 600 foreign companies have invested billions of dollars and are presently operating in sectors including technology, medical equipment and electronics, telecommunications, agribusiness, textiles, industrial assembly and fabrication, shipbuilding and tourism, oil and energy services. Examples include McDermott International, AT&T, PerkinElmer, Bechtel, Seagate Technology, Babcock & Wilcox, Holiday Inn, Matsushita, Kyocera, Hitachi, Sanyo, Nippon Steel, Hyundai, Sony and Philips.
 "We look forward to briefing Chicago-based firms about the many trade and investment opportunities now emerging following adoption of new legislation by the Indonesian Parliament last October and a July 2006 agreement between Indonesia and Singapore to jointly transform Batam, Bintan and Karimun into an expanded SEZ investment magnet," notes Drs. Ismeth Abdullah, Governor of the Kepri Riau (Riau Islands) Province and Former Chairman of the Batam Industrial Development Authority. "These developments build on the success Batam has achieved over the past three decades. Our achievements include $9bn in foreign investment that has already been generated within our province. In addition to the basing of manufacturing, industrial and distribution facilities, investment priorities include infrastructure, port and road development, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, alternative energy, and healthcare, education and other services."
 "US companies are joining their counterparts in Asia and Europe in recognizing the business and investment potential of ASEAN, a rapidly growing region composed of ten nations with a combined population of about 500 million. It has a total area of 4.5 million square kilometers, a gross domestic product of almost US$ 700 billion and a total trade of about US$ 850 billion," comments Wayne Forrest, President of the AICC. "The Riau Island / Batam New Expanded SEZ offers an ideal platform from which to operate both in regional and global terms. This includes cost competitiveness, close proximity to Singapore and excellent transportation links in addition to six international standard golf courses, beautiful beaches, and a wealth of ecotourism possibilities."
 "Baker & McKenzie is pleased to host the Riau Island delegation during their Chicago visit and to invite locally-based firms and professionals to hear how they can directly benefit from this new expanded SEZ," states Barry Metzger, Senior Partner, Global Banking & Finance Practice Group, Baker & McKenzie and Former General Counsel, Asian Development Bank. "Providing -- within a 12 mile radius -- access to the world-class city, quality of life and services of Singapore and the cost structure and efficiencies available in Indonesia, the Riau Island / Batam New Expanded SEZ offers the physical, service and operating infrastructure US firms and investors need to enhance their global competitiveness and to expand into one of the most rapidly growing regions in the world."
To attend the Riau Island/Batam New Expanded Special Economic Zone Investor Briefing in Chicago on October 31, 2008 or to obtain more information, please CLICK HERE to forward a registration or information request or contact the individual indicated below.
This material is published and disseminated by KWR International, Inc. on behalf of the Province of Riau Islands, Indonesia.. Additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
|
[ Approach ]