Great Karimun

Karimun

Great Karimun (Karimun Besar in Indonesian) or just Karimun is one of the islands in the Riau Islands province of Indonesia, administratively part of Karimun Regency. It lies about 37 km southwest of Singapore, 54 km west of Batam, 24 km northeast of Rangsang Island and 32 km north of Kundur Island.

History

In the past, Karimun was the destination of foreign traders and the Malay Kings. Stamford Raffles is believed to have considered Karimun island instead of Singapore when looking for a settlement.

Geography

Government office in Tanjung Balai city

The island's main city is Tanjung Balai Karimun. As of 2011, the regency of Karimun had a population of 272,985 with the majority of the people living in Great Karimun. Notable landmarks on the island include Mount Jantan, the beaches of Pelawan and Pongkar, and the Pongkar Waterfall.

Economics

The island has strategic geographical importance, as it is near the Straits of Malacca, an international shipping route. As the island is strategically located at the border of Singapore and Johor (in Malaysia), Karimun being a part of the Riau Islands also is included the SIJORI Growth Triangle partnership. SIJORI (Singapore-Johor-Riau Islands) Growth Triangle is a strategic partnership among Singapore, Johor and Riau Islands that combine the individual and collective strength to improve the subregion attractiveness to investors from both the region and international. SIJORI links the infrastructure, capital, expertise and rich culture of Singapore with the natural resources, lands and labour resources of Johor and Riau Islands.

However, due to the stronger ties between Singapore and Malaysia, Karimun is losing its economic attraction to Singaporean investments. Another reason for the loss in attractiveness is the lack of adequate infrastructure in Karimun, especially electricity supply and the lack of transparency in the government administration.

Natural resource

Tanjung Balai port

Due to large scale indiscriminate fishing activity near the island recently, fish stocks have been depleted, and thus the fishing businesses have declined considerably.

The main export of the island is its granite which is one of the best quality in the world.

Sand has also been constantly exported, mainly to Singapore for land reclamation. Indonesian has however limited sand exports over concerns with Singapore's reclamation projects, and banned them outright in the beginning of 2007. Singapore now faces a crisis with many upcoming building developments.

Free Trade Zone

A government building in Tanjung Balai

On 29 June 2007 the Indonesian government conferred enclave Free Trade Zone status on Karimun; a move intended to address the issue of legal certainty for investors.

Under the plan Karimun will be turned into shipyard, metal, component, agricultural, and marine produce industrial development centres.

See also

• Little Karimun, a smaller island just northeast of Great Karimun
• Karimun Jawa, an unrelated archipelago off the north coast of Java

External links

• Media related to Karimun at Wikimedia Commons
• Karimun travel guide from Wikivoyage

Main islands of Riau Islands Province
Riau Archipelago	Bintan Group: Bintan Mapur Gin Besar Mantang Dompak Telan Besar Senjolong Loban Angkut Empuru Penyegat Barelang Group: Batam-Rempang-Galang Galang Baru Subangmas Belakang Padang Sambu Manis Bulan Pemping Kepala Jernih Terong Karimun Group: Great Karimun Combol-Citlim Sugi Moro Island Durian Kundur Little Karimun Sanglar Durai Asam Island Bela Island Papan-Buru-Parit
Natuna Islands	Great Natuna South Natuna Archipelago Tambelan Archipelago
Anambas Islands	Tarempa Matak Jemaja Andriabu
Lingga Islands	Lingga Singkep Sebangka Bakung Selayar Posik Serak Lalang Temiang Mesawak Petong Abang Besar

Coordinates: 1°3′N 103°22′E / 1.050°N 103.367°E / 1.050; 103.367