KEBIJAKAN PENETAPAN BITUNG SEBAGAI KAWASAN EKONOMI KHUSUS (KEK)

The Bitung Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a regional development policy specially devised to drive economic growth based on well-set-up infrastructures, and incentives. The role of central government in supervising the policy is very important in coping with each negative impact, both economic as well as social. The sole purpose of this qualitative research is to study the implementation of the regional development policy of Bitung as a Special Economic Zone. The analysis had been carried out with a case study approach, and then descriptively elaborated, and resulted in the finding of: (1) the previous development and infrastructure blueprint at the Bitung City level have so far been in line with the SEZ; (2) the SEZ has so far been attracting industry-based investment and creating work for the labors; (3) the formulated local regulations have been considered enough in giving legal security toward investment; (4) the establishment of Bitung as an SEZ has been considered as a sound strategic policy; and (5) the readiness of Bitung as an SEZ has been deemed adequate, despite the facts that it still needed minor adjustments in a few aspects, such as: better socialization, acceleration of land relinquishment, and increasing electricity/power