Weda Bay, North Maluku – The Indonesian government has reaffirmed its commitment to providing strong immigration services to support strategic industrial investment, following a working visit by Vice Minister of Immigration and Corrections, Silmy Karim, to Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) in Central Halmahera.
The visit formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen immigration services and supervision in support of Indonesia’s priority industrial zones. During the visit, Vice Minister Silmy and his delegation reviewed immigration facilities operating at IWIP’s dedicated domestic airport and toured key infrastructure within the industrial park, including the port, power generation facilities, nickel processing plants, and battery-related industries.
Silmy highlighted the strategic role of immigration services in ensuring orderly investment activities and workforce mobility, both of which are essential to sustaining industrial growth and contributing to the national economy.
“The economic potential of this area requires immigration services that are robust, responsive, and adaptive, so that industrial operations and investment activities can run optimally,” Silmy said in an official statement on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
He further emphasized that effective support for industrial zones is the result of coordinated efforts among multiple government institutions.
“We see strong inter-agency synergy at Weda Bay Industrial Park, involving the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, the Ministry of Finance through the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, the Quarantine Agency, as well as the Indonesian National Armed Forces and National Police. This collaboration ensures that IWIP operates in compliance with regulations while supporting national economic growth targets,” he added.
According to Silmy, IWIP has emerged as one of Indonesia’s new economic growth centers driven by downstream nickel processing. He noted that total investment in the area has reached approximately IDR 500 trillion, with regional economic growth estimated at around 20 percent per year, significantly exceeding the national average.
Strengthening Immigration’s Role in Strategic Industrial Areas
PT IWIP Director Scott Ye said the Vice Minister’s visit underscored the importance of close coordination between the government and industrial park management.
“We welcome the visit of the Vice Minister and related ministries. The government’s presence on the ground is essential to ensure that industrial operations, including workforce management and international partnerships, comply with regulations and align with national policy direction. This support helps ensure that regulatory implementation is consistent and effective,” Scott Ye stated.
The visit reinforces Immigration’s role as a key element of state presence within strategic industrial zones. Through professional, adaptive, and integrated services, immigration authorities play a vital role in ensuring that investment flows, labor mobility, and industrial activities are conducted in an orderly and secure manner, delivering tangible benefits to the national economy.
As the industrial park operator, IWIP continues to strengthen operational standards and compliance systems, including enhancements to supporting services across the zone, to ensure that industrial activities are conducted safely, efficiently, and sustainably.
