Dharmawangsa Group Pledges $600m for Tanjung Kelayang Special Economic Zone
Jakarta. Belitung Maritime Silk Road, a consortium of companies under the Dharmawangsa Group, has pledged Rp 8 trillion ($609 million) to develop a special tourism economic zone in Bangka-Belitung.
The consortium broke ground last week for construction of roads and other supporting infrastructure in the 324-hectare area, dubbed as the Tanjung Kelayang Special Economic Zone.
Businesses in the special economic zone could enjoy tax and duty discounts, more relaxed customs and immigration, as well as expedited process for permits and land clearance. Under a 2016 government regulation, the special economic zone must be ready for operation in 2019.
The companies under this consortium are Belitung Pantai Intanthe — which initiated the proposal for the zone development, Bumi Belitung Indah, Nusa Kukila, Tanjung Kasuarina and Sentra Gita Nusantara. They are part of the Dharmawangsa Group, a privately held business group whose interests span from real estate to mining, oil and gas and construction.
The consortium's first hospitality project is a partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and state-owned lender Bank Tabungan Negara to develop a network of 1,000 homestays called The Kapitein House, which will be managed by local residents in Tanjung Kelayang.
Several global hotel chains including the Accor Group, Aston, Swiss Bell and even Ritz have bought land in nearby Tanjung Tinggi as more tourists are expected to visit the area once the special zone is opened, Belitung district head Sahani Saleh said.
"The hotels are waiting for the H.A.S. Hanandjoeddin Airport to get upgraded into an international airport before they start construction. It could take up to two years to build the hotels, that's why we build the homestays," Sahani said.
The Transportation Ministry is expanding the airport's runway and terminal's capacity to meet international standards.
According to the government's estimate, the Tanjung Kelayang Special Economic Zone will employ 23,000 workers and attract 500,000 foreign tourists every year.
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