At least ten provinces have proposed themselves, or parts of themselves, as candidates for special economic zone status.

Suyono Dikun, deputy Infrastructure minister, says that 10 12 provinces have put themselves forward to become Kawasan Ekonomi Khusus (KEK), while two others are expected to shortly. Banten has nominated the port town of Bojonegara while North Sumatra has suggested Belawan. Central Java is expected to put forward the Kudus area, which includes the furniture producing town of Jepara, he says.

None of the twelve are in the less developed east of Indonesia, however. Presently only one area in the country has the special economic zone status, that is Batam, near Singapore. kompas

November 3rd 2006

Three areas have been chosen as new special zones by the head of the investment board Muhammad Luthfi. They are in the provinces of North Sumatra (Sumatera Utara), South Sulawesi (Sulawesi Selatan), and Banten. In the latter the district of Bojonegara has been selected for KEK status, in the former two provinces it is not yet known which particular areas have been chosen. tempo