As the global demand for AI computing power continues to expand, an Indonesian island is becoming the first stop for Chinese data center giants to go global. Runze Technology announced a $5 billion investment to build an AI data center in Batam, marking the first step towards internationalization for this Shenzhen listed company and a key signal for Batam's transition from a manufacturing base to a digital hub.

Chinese data center giant's first overseas destination

Runze Technology is one of the largest data center enterprises in China, and this time it is located in the Nongsa area of Batam Island, covering an area of 30 hectares. The construction is undertaken by the Indonesian local developer EGSB, with funding and technical support provided by RangeIDC. The project has not yet started, and the power has been locked in advance. PT PLN Batam, a subsidiary of Indonesia's national power company, has signed a power purchase agreement with EGSB to ensure stable power supply. For AI data centers, electricity is the lifeline, and this move is ahead of construction.

Not just data centers

The Batam Free Trade Zone and Free Port Authority attach great importance to this investment. Fary Djemy Francis, Deputy Director of Investment Affairs at the Management Bureau, stated that the project is expected to drive the clustering of industries such as cloud computing, semiconductor ecosystems, and AI services, creating approximately 700 to 800 professional positions. The Management Bureau will open up a green channel to accelerate its implementation. Deputy Director Li Claudia Chandra defined it as a key milestone in Batam's transition to a technology innovation and digital driven economy. Keywords: AI big data, data center

From a manufacturing industrial zone to a global digital hub, Batam's ambitions go beyond just a data center. With the entry of international players such as Runze Technology, this Indonesian island adjacent to Singapore is seizing a place in the Southeast Asian computing map.Editor/Cheng Liting