Adopting a multi-disciplinary approach, this conference discussed current political and economic developments in the Riau Islands. The following three themes were covered at this conference: rapid economic change in Riau, effects of decentralisation, and the development model of the islands.
Incomes have risen rapidly, making the Riau Islands one of the country’s richest regions. Consequently, the Islands have experienced large-scale migration from other parts of the country, dramatically increasing its population, changing its demographic and political complexion, and challenging urban infrastructure and the environment.
Adopting a multi-disciplinary approach, this conference discussed current political and economic developments in the Riau Islands. The following three themes covered at this conference included: rapid economic change in Riau, effects of decentralisation, and the development model of the islands.
Panel 1: From Left to Right, Dr Andrew Carruthers, Visiting Fellow, ISEAS -Yusof Ishak Institute; Dr Francis E. Hutchinson (chair), Senior Fellow, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute; Dr Deasy Simandjuntak, Visiting Fellow, ISEAS -Yusof Ishak Institute; and Dr Ulla Fionna, Fellow, ISEAS -Yusof Ishak Institute (Video Presentation Through Skype). (Source: ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute)
Topics related to Ethnic Dynamics in the Riau Islands; Powerless Machines: The Lack of Capacity of Political Parties; Politics and Governance in the Borderlands: Reconciling Autonomy and Viability in the Riau Islands Province were covered in the first panel.
Panel 2: From Left to Right, Dr Francis E. Hutchinson, Senior Fellow, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute; Dr Cassey Lee (Chair), Senior Fellow, ISEAS -Yusof Ishak Institute, Dr Siwage Dharma Negara, Fellow, ISEAS -Yusof Ishak Institute, and Dr Charlotte Setijadi, Visiting Fellow, ISEAS -Yusof Ishak Institute. (Source: ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute)
Under Panel 2, the topics discussed included Burnishing Batam’s Business Environment; Revitalizing Batam’s Shipyard Sector; and the Chinese Presence in the Riau Islands.
Panel 3: From Left to Right, Dr Wilmar Salim, Bandung Institute of Technology, Dr Maxwell Lane, Visiting Senior Fellow, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Dr Siwage Dharma Negara (Chair), Dr Norshahril Saat, Fellow, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, and Dr Lee Poh Onn, Senior Fellow, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. (Source: ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute)
Topics on Urbanization in the Riau Islands; The Rise and Decline of Trade Union Militancy in Batam; The Traditionalist Response to Wahhabi-Salafism in Batam; and Reconciling Economic and Environmental Imperatives in Batam were covered in the last panel.
Close to 80 people from the business community, diplomatic corp, institutions of higher learning, and government organisations and statutory boards attended this conference.