Kendal SEZ Secures $9 Billion in Investments, Majority from Chinese Investors

JAKARTA, investortrust.id – Kendal Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which includes Kendal Industrial Park (KIK), has successfully attracted Rp 141 trillion ($9 billion) in investments since its establishment in 2016. The majority of investors in the zone come from China, reflecting Indonesia's growing appeal as a manufacturing hub.

"The total investment secured has reached Rp 141 trillion," said Executive Director of Kendal SEZ, Juliani Kusumaningrum, during a press conference in Central Jakarta on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

From the total investment, Rp 86 trillion ($5.5 billion) has already been realized. Juliani emphasized that this figure will continue to rise as the industrial zone expands and more companies complete their setup processes.

"This number will keep shifting because when investors enter Indonesia, they undergo a construction phase, followed by commissioning before full operations begin," she explained.

As of now, 124 companies have established their operations in Kendal SEZ, employing a total of 61,984 workers. Among these companies, 39% are from China, followed by firms from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, and Malaysia.

The dominant industries in Kendal Industrial Park include fashion, automotive, electronics, furniture, packaging, and logistics.

"The workforce figure includes both direct and indirect employment opportunities," Juliani added.

The rapid development of Kendal SEZ aligns with Indonesia’s efforts to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly amid global supply chain shifts that favor Southeast Asia as a production base.