Batam Showcases Strategic Position to 19 Nations' Defense Attachés

Batam, Indonesia, welcomed 22 defense attachés from 19 nations on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, for the Defence Attache Tour 2026. The visit, hosted at the BP Batam office, aimed to highlight the city's strategic importance as a free trade zone, investment center, and a key area for regional stability and cooperation.

The event, organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, also served to showcase the progress of the national defense industry, with a particular focus on shipbuilding. Colonel Infanteri Troy Hutagalung, head of the Indonesian delegation, stated that the tour is an annual agenda to introduce the developments in Indonesia's defense industry. "We want to promote Indonesia's defense industry through visits to various strategic sectors, including the maritime industry and shipyards, which have potential for cooperation in defense and economic fields," he said.

Participating countries included Russia, Brunei Darussalam, France, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Kenya, Laos, Pakistan, Japan, Myanmar, Germany, Poland, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, China, Jordan, Australia, and Morocco. Li Claudia Chandra, Acting Mayor of Batam, expressed her appreciation for the trust placed in Batam as a destination for the defense attachés. "It is an honor for us to receive the visit of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia along with defense attachés from friendly countries in Batam City," she said.

Chandra emphasized Batam's strategic position as a free trade and free port area bordering neighboring countries, underscoring the critical role of security in fostering investment and regional development. "Security is the main factor supporting the growth of the investment climate in Batam. The presence of the defense attachés today is a symbol of international confidence in Indonesia's stability, especially in Batam," she stated. The visit was intended to strengthen relations between Indonesia and friendly nations and open opportunities for collaboration.