Bitung SEZ promoted to attract investment, boost trade

Acting Bitung Container Terminal Head Muhammad Habibi stated that optimization of the Bitung Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is expected to boost export and import activities for leading commodities in North Sulawesi Province

"The target [area that can be developed] to support export and import activities [through] Bitung SEZ is 2,500 hectares (ha)," he said at the Bitung Container Terminal in Bitung City, North Sulawesi on May 7, 2025.

Habibi added that the company and related stakeholders are currently conducting further promotional activities so that the Bitung SEZ could attract more industries to join the area.

"This SEZ is still being developed. There are already industrial activities [here], such as paper processing factories. But [the number] is indeed still small and the area has not been widely utilized, so we continue to promote it," he explained.

Habibi pointed out the paper factory, which has been operating in the area since 2023, as an example of the SEZ's potential - as it has contributed significantly to export activities from Bitung to several countries such as China, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

The Bitung SEZ's strategic location, which include connection with the Manado-Bitung toll road as well as being close to other ports and airports, led to it being targeted to spur industrial opportunities such as logistics, fisheries, petrochemicals, provision of regional infrastructure, and coconut processing.

Meanwhile, realized container flow at the Bitung Container Terminal surged 21.21 percent year-on-year (yoy) from 61,816 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 74,928 TEUs. Previously, the cargo dock's container handling was recorded to have risen by 10.37 percent yoy from 254,643 TEUs in 2023 to 280,699 TEUs.