Batam plans to develop a $700 million technology park that may include a global data centre, a start-up incubator and housing for technopreneurs and programmers.
The 100ha Nongsa Digital Park, barely larger than the Singapore Botanic Gardens, will likely be the primary large-scale private development in Batam.
“The development of Nongsa Digital Park is in line with our agenda to achieve ‘Indonesia: Digital Energy Asia.’ It deserves the government’s support,” said Semuel Abrijani Pangarepan, Director General of Applications and Information Technology on the Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Between.
It is the most recent project from Infinite Studios, a Singapore-based integrated media entertainment and inventive services company that has produced movies and animated television series at its Nongsa facility, including Serangoon Road and HBO Asia’s The Garfield Show. The Infinite Studios facility in Nongsa will likely be a part of the brand new park. It is being touted as The largest studio in Southeast Asia.
Infinite Studios Chief Executive Michael Wiluan, an Indonesian and everlasting resident of Singapore, is the son of Indonesian oil and gas tycoon Kris Wiluan, chairman of conglomerate Citramas Group, which owns land in Nongsa, including a digital park, a nine-hole golf course, the Nongsapura ferry terminal and the Turi Beach Resort.
He said Strait Times that the park will likely be a “digital lifestyle campus that essentially allows people to live or play.” The office spaces will likely be open-plan, well-lit and ventilated, and can include a “mix of semi-industrial and green space.” Park residents will provide the “backbone of technology maintenance,” including backup, data processing and customer support, he said.
The first phase of the park, which is scheduled for completion by the top of the yr, will include the development of three two-story office blocks, Infinite Studios senior advisor Marco Bardelli said.
The project comes against the backdrop of the Singapore and Indonesian governments exploring ways to expand bilateral cooperation in latest industries.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Indonesian President Joko Widodo met in November last yr where they welcomed cooperation between private sector entities from each countries within the Batam digital economy sector.
“The creative industry should be the new driving force of the Riau Islands economy,” said Riau Islands Governor Nurdin Basirun during a visit to Nongsa Digital Park. “Its atmosphere and accessibility allow for scalability.”
There are currently 15 sub-sectors of the creative industries, including promoting, architecture, art, craft, design, fashion, video, film and photography, interactive games, music, performing arts, publishing and printing, computer and software services, television and radio, research and development, and culinary activities.
