Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA) – Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam) has secured a strategic investment for an artificial intelligence (AI) data center valued at US$5 billion.Deputy Head of BP Batam Li Claudia Chandra stated digital sector investments played an essential part in directing the economic transformation of Batam, known for its strategic location and international connectivity.”AI data center investments are a momentum to advance Batam's transition to technology, innovation, and a digital-based economy,” she stated in a written remarks received here on Monday.As the first step, Claudia Chandra added the Indonesian state-owned electric utility company PT PLN in Batam area inked an electric power purchase agreement with PT Equator Gate System Batam (EGSB), which intended to carry out the investment in Batam.She described the first agreement is reflecting Batam's readiness to support hyperscale AI data center investment with a global standard.Meanwhile, Deputy for Investment at BP Batam, Fary Djemy Francis, stated his side will support the project through the fast-track execution phase to expedite its realization.”BP Batam provides investment certainty, service promptness, and regional readiness; while PLN Batam provides energy readiness. This collaboration showed Batam's determination to be Indonesia's AI and digital gateway with global connectivity,” Francis said.He expected the EGSB project would encourage more investments in strategic technology industries in Batam, such as cloud computing, semiconductor, and AI services.The investment, in addition to strengthen Batam's position in the global digital industry chain, will also provide economic benefits through job creation and human resources development, transfer of technology, and sustainable digital economic development.”Batam will no longer develop as a manufacturing industry zone as it is transforming into an execution hub for the global digital industry,” Francis stated.PT EGSB is a developer of an AI data center backed by RangeIDC, one of the largest data center companies in China, listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The US$5 billion investment will be realised in a 30-hectare high-density AI data center development in Batam's Nongsa region.The development is expected to create new jobs for 700 to 800 professionals in the data center and digital technology sectors, with recruitment carried out through collaboration with higher education institutions in Batam.