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Indonesia Regions
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Sulawesi
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South Sulawesi and its important trading port of Makassar is the most developed province of Sulawesi island. The province has a total land area of 72,781 sq. km. and a population of 7,497,701. Agriculture, plantations, forestry and fisheries are the major economic activities. The province is a major center of Indonesia’s important cocoa plantations, while other commodities such as oil palm and cotton are also important. Mining is also strong, with a major nickel mine at Soroako operated by PT International Nickel Company (Inco). Rio Tinto is also looking at another major mining project in the province.
 West Sulawesi was recently created from South Sulawesi. Magnificent scenery provides good opportunity for growth in the tourism sector and the climate is ideally suited to horticulture and plantation industries. Forestry products like wood and rattan are important economic sectors. The land area of the province is 16,796.19 sq. km. No independent population census has been completed since the creation of the province.
Central Sulawesi has been troubled by ethnic clashes for some years but stability has now returned and the province is ready to monopolize on its huge potential as an agricultural center and as a source of energy. State oil and gas company Pertamina, in a joint venture with Japan’s Mitsubishi and local energy firm PT Medco International, is seeking finance for a $1 billion liquefied natural gas refinery at the Donggi-Senoro field.
Southeast Sulawesi is best known for its sea-faring people and fertile soils which support plantations of cocoa, cashew nuts, coconut, coffee, clove, pepper and kapok. The province is known for its asphalt mines, and there are also deposits of iron, nickel, coal, oil, and marble. The province had a population of 1,771,951 in 2000.
North Sulawesi is the center of an extensive fishing industry, with a major port at Bitung providing facilities for fishing fleets operating in the extensive waters between northern Sulawesi and the southern Philippines. Plantations of coconut and oil palm are other important economic assets. North Sulawesi is famous for the Bunaken marine national park. The province covers 15,364 sq. km. and has a population of 2,154,234.
Gorontalo, a new province created out of North Sulawesi, has quickly developed a strong reputation as a corn production center under the leadership of its first governor, former businessman Fadel Muhammad. The fisheries and marine industry remains open to further development, while animal husbandry is another area of potential. The province covers an area of 12,215 sq. km. and has a population of 830,200. |
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