The development of four special economic zones (in Indonesian: kawasan ekonomi khusus, or KEK) that are supposed to become operational before the end of 2017 is not going according to plan and therefore there emerge serious doubts whether these KEKs can come online before the year-end. These four KEKs are (1) Maloy Batuta Trans Kalimantan, (2) Tanjung Api-Api, (3) Morotai, and (4) Bitung (see map below).

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The Indonesian government unveiled its sixth economic stimulus package on Thursday (05/11). This latest package involves tax incentives for investment in Indonesia's special economic zones. Special economic zones are defined as designated areas where natural resources (mined in or around the zone) are processed. Chief Economics Minister Darmin Nasution said investors can get income tax discounts of between 20 and 100 percent for a duration up to 25 years. These generous tax holidays are designed to attract investment in the country's manufacturing industry.

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Sonia Kong, the Chairman of the Association of Korean Businesspeople in Batam, said that the investment or business climate in this Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has become less conducive in recent years. In the past five years, 17 Korean companies decided to move to other countries. Batam (including several surrounding islands) was given the status of SEZ with Singapore in 2007. This SEZ status means that tariffs and value-added taxes for goods shipped between Batam and Singapore are eliminated between 2007 and 2077.

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Six new 'special economic zones' (in Indonesian: kawasan ekonomi khusus, or KEK) should become operational in Indonesia soon. These six KEKs are: (1) Bitung, (2) Palu, (3) Tanjung Api-Api, (4) Mandalika, (5) Morotai, and (6) Maloy Batuta Trans Kalimantan. Indonesia's special economic zones are designated areas that offer both foreign and local investors preferential regulatory and tax regimes, as well as - in theory - the availability of key physical infrastructure such as harbors and power plants that should attract foreign investment in these zones.

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