Exploring Surabaya: City of Heroes with Big Business Potential

Yudishtira Wiramuda
3 min readJul 5, 2024

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Surabaya, the capital of East Java province, is the second largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta. Known as the City of Heroes, Surabaya has a rich history, diverse culture and great economic potential. Let’s explore everything about Surabaya, from its history and culture to the business potential between Jakarta and Surabaya.

History and Culture of Surabaya

Surabaya has an important role in Indonesian history. This city is known as the site of fierce fighting during the struggle for independence, especially the battle of 10 November 1945, which strengthened its status as a Hero City. The Tugu Pahlawan Monument and the Sepuluh Nopember Museum are silent witnesses to the fighting spirit of the people of Surabaya.

Surabaya’s culture is a blend of various ethnicities and cultures, including Javanese, Madurese, Chinese and Arabic. This is reflected in people’s daily lives, art and culinary delights. Some of Surabaya’s famous culinary specialties are rujak cingur, lontong racing, and klopo satay.

Economy and Infrastructure

Surabaya is the economic center of East Java and one of the most developed cities in Indonesia. This city has modern infrastructure with a large port, Juanda International Airport, and good transportation links. Tanjung Perak Port is one of the busiest ports in Indonesia, playing an important role in domestic and international trade.

Surabaya also has many modern shopping centers, star hotels and business centers. Industrial areas around Surabaya, such as in Gresik and Sidoarjo, make this city an important manufacturing and distribution center.

Business Potential between Jakarta and Surabaya

The business potential between Jakarta and Surabaya is very large, considering that these two cities are the main economic centers in Indonesia. Here are some promising business sectors:

1. Logistics and Transportation
— Jakarta and Surabaya have busy ports and airports, making the logistics and transportation sector very vital. With a cargo company like Satu Cargo, shipping goods between these two cities becomes more efficient and economical.

2. Manufacturing and Industry
— Surabaya and its surroundings are home to many factories and industries, from textiles, electronics, to food and beverages. Business partnerships with companies in Jakarta can increase production and distribution efficiency.

3. Trading and Distribution
— Both cities have large markets and modern shopping centers. Strong trade relationships between wholesalers in Jakarta and distributors in Surabaya can increase turnover and market penetration.

4. Tourism and Hospitality
— Surabaya is the gateway to many tourist destinations in East Java such as Mount Bromo, Malang and Banyuwangi. Collaboration between travel agents in Jakarta and Surabaya can increase the number of domestic and international tourists.

5. Technology and Start-ups
— Jakarta as a start-up center in Indonesia can collaborate with the technology community in Surabaya to develop innovations and new technology products. The exchange of ideas and resources could accelerate the growth of the technology industry in both cities.

Conclusion

Surabaya is not only a city with a rich history, but also a dynamic economic center with huge business potential, especially in relation to Jakarta. Good infrastructure, large population and diverse industrial sectors make Surabaya an ideal business partner. By exploiting this potential, business people can create new opportunities and strengthen the economies of both cities and Indonesia as a whole.

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