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Batam

Geography
Batam (Indonesia)
Location	Southeast Asia
Archipelago	Riau Archipelago
Area	415 km²
Country
Indonesia
Demographics
Population	713.960 (as of 2006)
Official website	http://www.batamkota.go.id/

Batam is an island and also a city in Riau Islands Province of Indonesia, known for its free trade zone area as part of the Sijori Growth Triangle, is located 20 km (12.5 miles) off Singapore's south coast. The 415 km² (160 miles²) island has a population of 713,960 in December 2006^[1], most of whom are Malays (85%) and Chinese (14%). A few indigenous Orang Laut tribes also live on the island.

In the 1970s, the island underwent a major transformation from a largely forested area into a major harbor and industrial zone. The population drastically grew from a few thousand in the 1960s into hundreds of thousands.^{[citation needed]} Located close to Singapore and endowed with a much cheaper labour force, several Singaporean companies have established factories in Batam.

The official language on the island is Indonesian, but due to the sizeable Chinese population, Chinese dialects like Teochew and Mandarin are somewhat widely spoken. Apart from industrial zones, the islands have several resorts and tourist destinations.

SEZ - Special Economic Zones

Since 2006, the Indonesian Islands of Batam, Bintan and Karimun as well as Singapore benefit from the new SEZ scheme introduced by Indonesia and Singapore. Under this rule there will be no tax paid for shipments between these islands. This was introduced to help the economy in this region.

FTZ - Free Trade Zone

Since 29 June 2007, Indonesian government gives full free trade zone status for Batam and enclave status for Bintan and Karimun. This is to address the issue of legal certainty for investors.

According to the plan, Batam will be transformed into shipyard, electronic, and mecatronic industrial development centers; Bintan into textile, footwear, and tourism industrial development centers; and Karimun into shipyard, metal, component, agricultural, and marine produce industrial development centers.

Geography

Pompong boat for short distance connections in Batam and nearby islands

Batam is located East of Karimun and Bulan Island, West of Bintan, North of Rempang, and South of Singapore. Riau Strait (Selat Riau) separates Batam and Bintan.

Communities

• Northwest : Sekupang
• North Central : Jodoh, Nagoya, Sungai Panas, Batam Centre, Balai, Batu Ampar, and Bengkong

Transport

Sekupang port with connections to western Indonesian islands, as well as Jakarta, Singapore and Malaysia

Awal Bros hospital in Batam island

Ferry service to nearby cities/countries such as Bintan, Karimun, Singapore and Johor (Malaysia) is the most popular form of transportation. Hang Nadim Airport is the island's only airport with most flights going between Batam and Jakarta.

The ferry ride between Batam and Singapore takes less then one hour. There are several ferry companies operating this route:

• Penguin
• Batam Fast
• Wavemaster

The ferry ride between Batam and Johor Bahru, Malaysia takes few hours, the ferry operator are located in The ZON Johor Bahru. The rate is about RM69 per adult one way. [The ZON Johor Bahru[1]]

Places of Interest

Apart from various resorts, night clubs and kareoke bars, the "Barelang" bridges are the icon to Batam. The name is abbreviation from Batam-Rempang-Galang. The bridges were constructed under Habibie as the Minister for Research and Technology with funding from the German government.

Galang island was put on the map when the UNHCR setup a holding camp for the Vietnamese 'Boat People'. Refugees trickling down the South China Seas escaping the Vietnamese Communist regime since 1975. The site has been set aside, it comprises of old red cross hospital building, various churches and the graves of the refugees who did not make it. A Buddhist temple for the God of Mercy was built by the surviving ex-refugees who had settled in various parts of western countries.

See also

• Bintan
• Nagoya, Batam

References

1. ^ Bida Website

See also

• List of Indonesia-related topics
• Shopping malls in Batam

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Batam

• Official Website
• BIDA/Otorita Batam Website
• Batam travel guide from Wikitravel

Coordinates: 1°04′N 104°01′E / 1.067, 104.017

v • d • e Main Islands of Riau Islands province (Propinsi Kepulauan Riau) Riau Archipelago: Bintan | Batam | Rempang | Galang | Bulan | Combol | Kundur | Karimun (Riau Is) Natuna Islands: Natuna Besar | South Natuna archipelago | Tambelan archipelago Anambas Islands: Tarempa | P. Matak | Jemaja Andriabu Lingga Islands: Lingga | Singkep | Sebangka | Bakung | P. Selayar (Riau Is) | Posik | P. Serak | Lalang | Temiang | Mesawak

v • d • e Regencies and cities of Riau Islands province Capital: Tanjung Pinang Regencies Karimun • Bintan • Lingga • Natuna • Anambas Islands Cities Batam • Tanjung Pinang See also: List of regencies and cities of Indonesia

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