Batam is pulling ahead, and the numbers make that clear. While many regions are still finding their pace, this city is moving faster and with more consistency. Throughout 2025, Batam recorded economic growth of 6.76 percent year-on-year, excluding oil and gas. That figure is not just strong. It is the highest in the Riau Islands Province. It also goes beyond both the provincial average of 5.88 percent and the national growth rate of 5.11 percent, based on data from Statistics Indonesia.
Across the province, other regions followed behind. Bintan posted growth of 6.43 percent. Karimun reached 5.44 percent. Lingga recorded 3.53 percent, while Tanjungpinang stood at 3.31 percent. The Anambas Islands saw growth of 2.87 percent. In contrast, Natuna experienced a contraction of minus 1.61 percent.
Batam’s role in the regional economy is just as striking as its growth rate. In 2025, the city contributed 66.44 percent to the overall economy of the Riau Islands. That makes it the largest economic driver in the province.
Amsakar Achmad, Head of BP Batam and also Mayor of Batam, pointed to several sectors behind this momentum. Manufacturing activity continues to rise. Construction is expanding. Trade remains active. Transportation and logistics are growing, supported by steady investment inflows.
“The economic structure based on manufacturing, international trade, and logistics services forms a strong and sustainable foundation for growth,” he said.
For Amsakar, the story goes deeper than just growth figures. The focus on non-oil and gas performance shows a shift that has been building over time. Batam is no longer relying on traditional resource-based sectors. Instead, it is leaning more on industry and investment.
“Batam’s economic growth of 6.76 percent excluding oil and gas shows that the city’s economic engine is driven by productive sectors such as manufacturing, trade, logistics, and continuously growing investment,” he said.
He also explained why this measure matters. Growth without oil and gas offers a clearer view of real economic strength. It is not tied to global energy price swings or production changes.
“The oil and gas sector is highly dependent on global energy prices and production volumes. By looking at non-oil and gas growth, we can see the real strength of Batam’s economy, which is supported by industry and investment,” he said.
What emerges is a picture of a city that is reshaping its foundation. Not by chance, but through sectors that continue to expand and attract capital. And for now, Batam seems to be setting the pace for the rest of the province.
