The Batam island in the Riau Islands Province of Indonesia, known for a free trade zone as a part of the Sijori Growth Triangle, is located 20 km (12.5 miles) off Singapore's south coast. The 415 km² (160 miles²) island has a population of 713,960 in December 2006, most of whom are Malays (85%) and Chinese (14%). A few indigenous Orang Laut tribes still live in the island. It is also a managed as a city (kota) in Riau Islands province. In 1970s, the island underwent a major transformation from topologically forest area into a major harbor and industrial zone. The population drastically grew from a few thousand in the 1960s into the hundreds of thousands.[citation needed] Located in the direct proximity of Singapore and provided with cheaper labour forces, several Singaporean companies have established factories in Batam. The official language on the island is Indonesian, but due to major Chinese population, Chinese dialects like Teochew and Mandarin are widely spoken, particularly in businesses. Apart from industrial zones, the islands have several resorts and tourist destinations.
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