Balikpapan Mayor Rahmad Mas'ud is planning to transform Balikpapan into a regional logistics and trade epicentre. On 3 May 2025, Rahmad made a speech at a business forum attended by industry leaders, in which he explicitly expressed his intention to encourage more proactive collaboration and to position the company as the primary export-import gateway for Kalimantan and the surrounding region. The city government and the local business community need to work closely together. These discussions are an opportunity for businesses to share their ideas, input and information. Key stakeholders play a pivotal role in overseeing the city's development.
The port plays a vital role as a connector and trade route for South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, and West Sulawesi. This underscores the necessity for cross-regional collaboration to ensure optimal functionality and efficiency. Rahmad emphasised that the guarantee of straightforward licensing is ready to be given to address concerns related to bureaucracy, while also presenting aspects of urban conduciveness. The Balikpapan City Government stands ready to provide the necessary policy support and to facilitate the process, under the regulations and provisions of spatial law. Collaboration between the government and the business world will be pivotal to achieving the goal of establishing Balikpapan as an advanced, sustainable and inclusive city.
