Indonesia's SEZs generate 302,000 jobs, US$1.24 billion in investment

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia recorded cumulative realized investments of Rp382.1 trillion (approximately US$21.24 billion) across its Special Economic Zones (SEZs) between 2012 and September 2026.

"Cumulatively, since the establishment of the SEZs, realized investment has reached Rp382.1 trillion, creating approximately 302,000 jobs across 509 business entities," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said during a coordination meeting here on Wednesday.

For 2026, Hartarto said investment realization in the zones reached Rp46 trillion (US$2.56 billion) from January to September, equivalent to 67 percent of the government’s full-year target of Rp69.1 trillion (US$3.84 billion).

“From January to September, we successfully realized Rp46 trillion in investment and created an additional 53,000 jobs,” he said.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) accounted for the bulk of investment realization during the January–September period, reaching Rp33 trillion (US$1.83 billion), while domestic direct investment (DDI) contributed Rp13 trillion (US$722.54 million).

Indonesia currently has 25 designated SEZs nationwide. As part of the government’s efforts to promote more equitable economic development, 18 zones are located outside Java, while the remaining seven are on the island.

By sector, the zones comprise 13 industrial zones, six tourism zones, two healthcare zones, two technology and education zones, one digital hub, and one general services zone.

Hartarto said SEZ development needed to be accelerated to help Indonesia achieve its 8 percent economic growth target.

“SEZs are among the areas that must continue to be developed. If we invest with an ICOR (Incremental Capital Output Ratio) of 4, the 8 percent growth target can be achieved,” he said.

According to Hartarto, the zones have higher investment efficiency than the national average. This is reflected in the national ICOR of 6.1, compared with an average of below 4 in the zones. A lower ICOR indicates greater investment efficiency, allowing investment to generate stronger economic growth.

Related news: Indonesia pushes special economic zones to reach 8 pct growth target

Translator: Bayu Saputra, Uyu Liman
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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