Yogyakarta, 31 October 2025 – The Undergraduate Program of Urban and Regional Planning (PWK), Universitas Gadjah Mada, once again held a guest lecture entitled “Towards Sustainable Industrial Areas: Concepts, Governance, and Development Strategies of the Batang Integrated Industrial Estate (KIT Batang).” The lecture was conducted offline and was open to the public at the DTAP Building, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Beyond a conventional guest lecture, the event was also conducted in collaboration with the Student Association of Urban and Regional Planning Engineering (HMTPWK) UGM as part of the Company Visit x Industrial Estate Planning Course.
The industry-themed guest lecture featured Ing. Angga Brahmana Sukma, S.T., Head of the Marketing and Sales Division at the Batang Integrated Industrial Estate (KIT Batang). Commonly known as Bram, he shared valuable insights and practical experiences related to industrial estate development, drawing from real-world lessons at KIT Batang.
Bram opened the lecture with a bold statement that industrial estates are key drivers of national economic growth. He explained the economic logic linking Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) and industrial estates, highlighting their relationship and impact. According to Bram, industrial estates function as engines of regional economic growth, as every investment activity within them generates multiplier effects reflected in the components of GRDP.
He also emphasized alignment with national policies, including the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) and Asta Cita, which target economic growth partly through achieving Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Domestic Investment (DDI) realization—objectives that can be effectively pursued through industrial estates. Industrial Estates (KI) and Special Economic Zones (SEZ/KEK) play a significant role as drivers of Indonesia’s macroeconomic growth, with KIT Batang being one of the national priority projects.
Bram explained the background behind the establishment of KIT Batang. During the momentum of the US–China trade war, which triggered the relocation of 33 companies from China, none chose Indonesia due to perceived unpreparedness and lack of competitiveness. Learning from this setback, the government initiated KIT Batang as a National Strategic Project (PSN) to reclaim lost investment opportunities. Marketed as “Industropolis Batang SEZ,” the area officially became a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in March 2025 and is now positioned to become a major engine of Indonesia’s economic growth.
Bram further elaborated on KIT Batang’s vision to become a “Smart, Integrated, and Sustainable Industrial City.”This vision goes beyond marketing rhetoric. Spanning 4,300 hectares, the master plan is structured into three thematic clusters:
-
Cluster 1 (Creation): Industrial and industrial township development (3,100 ha)
-
Cluster 2 (Innovation): Innovation hub and township (800 ha)
-
Cluster 3 (Recreation): Recreational area and township (400 ha)
To realize its sustainability vision, KIT Batang adopts the SPACE principles: Sustainable, Pioneer, Adaptive, Collaborative, and Efficient. KIT Batang has achieved GREENSHIP Neighborhood V.1 Platinum certification. Its development strategy emphasizes Circular Economy and Zero Waste, supported by technologies such as smart metering, air pollution monitoring systems, smart waste management, and water reclamation technology for wastewater reuse.
In its business development approach, KIT Batang applies the concept of Growth and Lead, aiming to drive KIT Batang’s growth while becoming a leading regional industrial estate. Its overarching vision is “To be a Regional Champion by Creating a Smart, Integrated, and Sustainable Industrial City for the Success of Indonesia’s Economic Growth.”
Despite its achievements, Bram acknowledged that KIT Batang faces various challenges and opportunities in its future development, including those related to spatial planning and area concepts, operational and infrastructure management, human resources and socio-economic management, as well as external support and market dynamics.
The lecture concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which participants enthusiastically engaged in discussions on industrial estate planning and management.
This guest lecture provided valuable insights for participants, highlighting that KIT Batang is not merely an infrastructure project, but a strategic initiative that—if managed wisely—can generate significant benefits. The success of KIT Batang should be measured not only by investment value, but also by its ability to transform into a truly sustainable industrial city environmentally, economically, and socially.
This guest lecture is relevant to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
