Batam is just across Singapore, the island state and former British colony which is growing well over the last years that she can show off with her dynamic and strong economy. Batam is so close - just twenty kilometres away - that the sky scrapers are visible as the horizon, and the bright light of the city can be seen at night.
In fact Batam has much in common with Singapore for what geography concerning, except it's smaller, but just a touch. Still, this sleepy, forgotten island was of little importance not too long ago. Like with many islands of the Riau archipelago, the islands were covered with dense forests and surrounded by mountainous mangrove forests, and the inhabitants lived in fishing villages along the coast. Many originated from the
orang laut, sea nomard and pirates which served as sailors and warriors of the Malay kingdoms like Srivijaya and Malakka.
At the end of the 1960's, Batam got an unexpected meaning, when Pertamina, the state oil company, decided to develop the island as a base for it's vast exploration- and shipping activities. The pro's were clear. Batam's cheap land prices and labour costs would lower expences, while it's strategical position against Singapore ensured them to a fast entry of efficient technical know-how. The Indonesian government decided in the 1970's, following the growth of Singapore with jealousy, that Batam had to become the second Singapore, a regional centre for industry, seatrade and communication, which maybe could pass Singapore in the future.
The 'Growth Triangle'
The development of Batam started kind of slow due to a number of reasons. Because of lack of elementary infrastructure is was easier and cheaper to do trade in Singapore. This situation changed rapidly in the 1980's, when the growing economy of Singapore outrose the growth of the population, and this island republic had a shortage of labour forces, especially for factories. All of a sudden companies started to turn themselves to Malaysia and Indonesia, and Batam became the focal point for development of industries. It's the government of Singapore which started to gather parties to tell them that Batam should be another important island nearby. In 1989, Goh Chok Tong, the premier at that time, created a triangle of free trade between Johor (Malaysia), Singapore and the Riau islands, in which all of the parties whould grow. This idea was adapted enthousiastically and in the next few months, contracts worth bilions of dollars were signed between private Indonesian companies and state owned companies in Singapore.
Nowadays the idyllic peace of Batam is roughly disrupted by unstoppable noise of chainsaws and big machines, where rainforests are replaced by giant industrial areas, tourist stays and cities. Thousands of labourers from Singapore cross the sea lane every day by super-fast boats in 25 minutes. Batam is destined to be an extension of it's developed neighbor, since more and more companies replace the labour intensive part of their company to this island.
Starting point is that Singapore will invest in knowledge and capital for the construction of a basic infrastructure and elementary industrial-, trade-, and tourist enterprises which will cause the so-called 'critical mass' to be persuaded to invest in this island as well. After that, the profits of cheap labour and land on Batam will cause stronger development, which return feed-back to Singapore's own high-tech industries.
Planning and investment
Carefull planning is seen as the key for success, and a big part of Batam is already split up for several projects. The entire eastern coast is reconstructed into a container terminal, Asia Port, which will offer place for ships until 150.000 tonnes. The neighboring international airport Hang Nadim (named after a general of Malakka's war-fleet which ruled the island in the 15th century) is extended to jumbojets can land there as well.
In the central part of the island, an autonomous industrial park is build, complete with housing for the workers. This project alone used 600 milion US$ for water, electricity and telecommunications alone. Many Japanese, American and European companies have already opened a factory there.
The peninsula Tanjung Uncang, along the western tip of the island, will process Sumatera's products in the near future. The island already has water installations and an excellend road system.
But the main attraction will possibly be the newly designed city on the island; "Batam Centrum", an entire city with office towers, markets, shopping centres and living areas, which is being developed along Teluk Tering, just across Singapore. This will be the administrative centre of the island, with in the near future a polytechnical institute and an educational centre.
Because of Singaporean investments, the Indonesian burocracy has almost gone. Foreigners are almost free to travel to the island from Singapore. There are even plans for a shuttle chopper service. The flow of factory workers, especially from the poor parts of Indonesia like Jawa, has already started; they live in specially built houses just on walking distance of their job.
A big part of the needed money for these ambitious plans will come from abroad, and the Council for Industrial Development of Batam - an autonomous body which was created by former President Suharto - does much for attracting foreign money. Companies which have lots of cash money are willing to use Batam as the production base for Southeastern Asia, economically seen the fastest growing part of the world, at the end of the 20th century. A profit which is not advertised widely is that the companies can also make use of the Preferentional System for export to the US, EC and Japan.
Meanwhile Batam is also becoming a major tourist destination. In 1990, more than half a milion residents of Singapore took the ferry to Batam to relax, shop and diner and for buying tax-free tobacco products and liquor. Project developers have agreed to develop the northern shore around Nongsa for a big tourist location, which will transform the island into the playing garden of Singapore, together with it's neighbor of Bintan. In 1993, ten luxury hotels and three golf cources were opened.
The biggest tourist attraction of Batam are the unspoiled beaches, and also the seafood restaurants in
kelong style, built on pawls above the water, are very popular. The most well known attraction is Radio Ramako, a popmusic station which is loved in Singapore for it's 24-hour broadcast of 'Amazing Zoo', and 'Coast 100'. Their mixture of fast music and even faster speaking DJ's forced Singaporean radio stations to start competing with them for advertisement money, so Singapore also has a 24 hour radio station as well.
One day on Batam
Besides the beaches and the seafood restaurants there is not much to do on Batam. A trip through the jungle still is interesting, as well as a visit to the Malay kampungs along the coast. The starting point of the ferry is Nagoya, earlier known as Lubuk Baja ('Pirates Place'), nowadays a crowded centre of trade, mostly inhabited by Chinese. Getting lost is not possible, because there are only three main streets; have a quick look in the shops and markets and go to the Bhuddhist temple Vihara Budhi Bhakti at the eastern edge of the city after that. Bus loads of Singaporean people go to the temple every day.
A few kilometre southeast of Nagoya is Batam Centrum, a vast shopping- and housing project. A trip along the beautifull Teluk Tering gives an impression for what the future can bring. Continue to Batu Besar along the northern coast for lunch. This friendly Malay fishing village has a sand beach with several seafood restaurants on long pillars above the water. The food is very good, however the prices look like those in Singapore. The airport is kind of close, every few minutes an airplane flies above you; wander to the beach after your lunch, along palm trees and old Malay houses.
In Nongsa, on the northeastern corner, are safe sand beaches with new luxury hotels; a very good place for a swim. Turi Beach Resort has water scooters, and most other hotels rent snorkling equipment and surf boards. Travel back late in the afternoon to the place of the ferry in Sekupang. Make a loop towards the south along the hundred year old waringin tree, across Batam Industrial Park. A last stop can be Radio Ramako, just outside Sekupang, where visitors can have a look. Sekupang has very good, tax-free shops. Almost everything is sold here, from Swiss watches to salted fish.
