Batam

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Batam

Batam (Indonesia)
Geography
Location	Southeast Asia
Archipelago	Riau Archipelago
Area	715 km2 (276.1 sq mi)
Country
Indonesia
Demographics
Population	949,775 (as of June 2010)
Additional information
Official website	http://www.batamkota.go.id/

Batam is an island and 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 715 km² (276 miles²) island has a population of 949,775 (June 2010).^[1]
The indigenous community of Batam are ethnic Malays and they speak Malay in the Riau-Lingga accent which is also the accent of the Malays in Singapore and the Malaysian states of Pahang, Johor and Selangor.^{[citation needed]}

Contents [hide] 1 Geography 2 Economy 3 Transport 4 Twin Cities 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Geography

Batam is located east of Karimun and Bulan Island, west of Bintan, north of Rempang, and south of Singapore. The Riau Strait (Selat Riau) separates Batam and Bintan. The biggest community on the island is Nagoya. Other main communities include Sekupang, Jodoh, Sungai Panas, Batam Centre, Baloi, Batu Ampar, and Bengkong.

Pompong boat for short distance connections in Batam and nearby islands

[edit] Economy

Beginning in the 1970s, the island underwent a major transformation from a largely forested area into a major harbor and industrial zone. The island's economy benefits from being close to Singapore, and, with lower labour costs and special government incentives, is the site of many factories operated by Singaporean companies. Shipbuilding and electronics manufacturing are major industries on the island; there are also several resorts and tourist destinations on the island.^[2]
Under a framework signed in June 2006, Batam, along with parts of neighboring Bintan and Karimun, are a part of a Special Economic Zone with Singapore; this zone eliminates tariffs and value-added taxes for goods shipped between Batam and Singapore.^[3]

[edit] Transport

The island is connected by several ferry services to nearby cities, including Bintan, Karimun, Singapore and Johor Bahru (Malaysia); the trip to Singapore takes less than one hour.^{[citation needed]}
Hang Nadim Airport is the island's airport, and has the longest runway in Indonesia;^{[citation needed]} Jakarta is the most important destination.

Batam Centre Harbour from a ferry

The "Barelang" bridges are a major landmark on Batam. The name is an abbreviation of Batam-Rempang-Galang, the three major islands connected by the bridges, and 3 more smaller islands. The bridges were constructed^[when?] under Habibie as the Minister for Research and Technology with funding from the German government.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Twin Cities

• Singapore

[edit] See also

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

[edit] References

1. ^ Batam Industrial Development Authority
2. ^ "Indonesia President inaugurates Batam free trade zone". Xinhua General News Service. Jan 19 2009. 
3. ^ Teo, Laurel (May 19, 2007). "Indon SEZ rules ready by end-May; Setting of a deadline likely to please potential investors". The Business Times Singapore. 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Batam

• Official Website
• Batam travel guide from Wikitravel

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

[show]v · d · eMain 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

[show]v · d · eRegencies and cities of Riau Islands province