- SEZs generated 18.63B USD investment and 187,000+ jobs in 5 years.
- H1 2025 alone saw 2.56B USD invested, creating 28,094 new jobs.
- Future focus includes healthcare, digital education, and export growth.
Indonesia has secured 18.63 billion USD in investment across its special economic zones (SEZs) over the past five years, generating more than 187,000 jobs, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs announced.
In the first half of 2025 alone, SEZ investment reached 2.56 billion USD, equal to 48.2% of the annual target, according to Ministry Secretary Susiwijono Moegiarso. The inflows created 28,094 new jobs and drew 65 new businesses to operate within the zones, he told reporters on September 9.
The country currently operates 25 SEZs, 18 of which are located outside Java. Thirteen focus on industry, while the remaining 12 are service-based. Kendal, Gresik, and Galang Batang have emerged as the top destinations for investment.
Most of the capital has gone into processing and manufacturing, while smaller investments have flowed into education, healthcare, and the digital economy, sectors that officials expect to expand significantly in the coming years.
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SEZs are also becoming a stronger contributor to Indonesia’s exports. Between 2021 and mid-2025, SEZs recorded export earnings of 82 trillion IDR (5.19 billion USD), led by alumina from Galang Batang, battery anodes from Kendal, and copper from Gresik.
Rizal Edwin, Secretary-General of the National Council for SEZs, noted that Indonesia’s zones remain modest compared with those in Malaysia and Vietnam. He called for more incentives to diversify industries, therefore attracting and stimulating investments.
In the future, the government committed to establishing SEZs in healthcare and digital education, ultimately to achieve acceleration in GDP and longer-term sustainable progress. Rizal also highlighted the possibility of cooperation with Vietnam. He emphasized that the two countries would complement each other in global markets instead of competing directly.