WE ARE a group of investors from Australia, the US and the UK who have found our own island in the sun on Batam in the north west of Indonesia, just offshore from Singapore.

WE HAVE established a fully foreign owned Indonesian foreign investment company (PT Smiling Hill Investments) and are creating a residential resort which is becoming recognised as a model “community” providing high standard accommodation for Western Expatriates who work in the region or those who wish to relocate to a safe, secure, relaxed, convenient, stimulating and inexpensive location in South East Asia.

Some of us already live here permanently or semi-permanently. Some are regular visitors who plan to retire or relocate to Smiling Hill in the future. For others the attraction is the opportunistic investment potential from high yields and forecast high value uplift.

We all have sufficient belief in the concept, the region and in Batam to have committed our funds and several years of hard work to make Smiling Hill a viable reality.

The Smiling Hill project began when a small group of us began looking for an “ideal” and affordable base in South East Asia where we could live permanently or semi-permanently and enjoy a relaxed, low cost and easy-going lifestyle.

We soon found we were being approached by others who also wanted to enjoy a low-cost Asian experience without sacrificing Western accommodation standards and conveniences. We continue to welcome approaches from like-minded people who wish to become involved in our project and help bring it to fruition.

Investment Opportunity

WITH THE completion of key construction work in the first half of 2009, the groundwork has been completed – our concept has been tried, tested and proven.

Though it was not the original primary intention, we have created a high grade investment opportunity - a prudent, secure, high yield, high growth, lifestyle residential property investment in a strategic location destined to attract widening attention and generate asset growth.

From the beginning of 2006 we established a corporate structure on syndicate-like lines to allow more like-minded people to invest in and become part of the project. We also undertook long-term planning providing for a six-year period of development.

Now we are some 19 individual investors who together have subscribed some $SGD2.4 million to fund property acquisitions and development with a gearing level of less than 5%. Our forward planning provides for total spending at completion of about SGD$12 million, providing for a complex of around 100 apartments, 10 to 15 houses, a clubhouse (with guestrooms) and recreation facilities including restaurants and bars.

We are seeking to raise a further SGD$3.5 million over the next two years for further property acquisitions and development work. Together with planned debt funding for construction work this additional investment funding would be sufficient to take the project to completion.

Right Time, Right Place

WE CONSIDER the Smiling Hill project to be very timely. Places like Central America, the West Coast of Mexico, the Caribbean islands and the South of Spain traditionally offered low-cost places in the sun for Westerners looking for a fresh start and a different and better life, especially in retirement.

But soaring real estate prices and living costs have put many of these once-favoured regions out of reach for many and Asia is now emerging as THE place to be. Growing numbers are relocating to Thailand, Bali, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Batam Island is still unknown to most Westerners. It is warm, welcoming, relaxed, accessible and also booming as one of the fastest growing local regions of Indonesia and South East Asia.

It can be a great place to visit and live and offers very attractive investment opportunities for those who have done their homework and understand Indonesia and the local Batam scene. We have done that work and have planned accordingly. If you are looking for a lifestyle “sea change” and a solid, secure, high return investment then you now have the opportunity to benefit from our experience along with us.

The rewards can be great in Indonesia for those of us who are open, willing to learn, able to adapt and prepared to persist. And though sometimes frustrating, it is a FUN country in which to live.

Come visit and see for yourself

Smiling Hill Shareholders meet on the Clubhouse terrace

Smiling Hill Clubhouse

ARCHITECTURAL model of the massive development now underway at Harbour Bay. The ferry terminal, blocks of shophouses, a waterfront food market, bars and restaurants a three-star hotel and a major shopping mall are already completed or near completion. Apartment towers, a five-star hotel and multi-storey commercial premises are planned.

Click on photos to enlarge

Click on photo to enlarge