Serang, Banten (ANTARA) - Acting Governor of Banten Al Muktabar said he wants the Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) 2 area to become a new economic growth center that absorbs local workers.
Speaking here Sunday, Muktabar said the Banten Provincial Government welcomes the development of the Nusantara International Convention and Exhibition (NICE) in PIK 2 as a new global economic growth center in Banten Province.
"This will be able to absorb a lot of local workers," he said.
NICE is projected to be the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia by standing in an area of about 40 hectares. The investment so far, in the first phase of development, has reached more than Rp3 trillion or around US$198.3 million, he said.
Muktabar said that the NICE project construction will be carried out in several stages with a span of about one year. "NICE is targeted to start operating on September 25, 2025," he said.
According to him, the development of PIK 2 as a new economic growth center supports the government's efforts to boost investment-based development in Banten, which will increase labor absorption.
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"We know that Banten Province is one of the top five investment destinations nationally. Hopefully, this area will continue to develop with more complete and environment-friendly infrastructure," he said.
Meanwhile, owner and founder of Agung Sedayu Group, Sugianto Kusuma, said that following the Rp3 trillion investment, there will be another Rp1 trillion in investment for the next stage.
The next stage consists the construction of a hotel and other facilities.NICE is divided into three zones: Zone one is for concerts, zones two and three are for exhibitions and conferences. It will have a courtyard that will function as a culinary center, Kusuma noted.
