Province

Bangka Belitung

Overview Economy

Bangka Belitung, heaven of tin mining and natural tourism

Located off the eastern coast of Sumatra, the archipelagic province of Bangka Belitung comprises several smaller islets along with its two main islands, Bangka and Belitung. Following its formal recognition as a separate province from South Sumatra in 2000, Bangka Belitung became the 31st province of Indonesia.

As of 2023, Bangka Belitung is home to a population of 1.52 million people, marking the province as the least populous in Sumatra island. The communities are comprised of seven big religions, Islam (48.92 percent), Buddhism (24.19 percent), Confucianism (14.59 percent), Christianity (6.08 percent), Catholicism (2.76 percent), Taoism (4.16 percent), and Hinduism (0.08 percent).

Bangka Belitung’s natural landscape is characterized by rainforests, mangrove forests, foliage, and oceans, which are home to a diverse array of marine life, including sea turtles, manta rays, and coral reefs filled with tropical species. One of the province’s most renowned natural features is the granite rock formations that dot the countryside. Additionally, Bangka Belitung boasts beaches such as Tanjung Tinggi Beach in Belitung, renowned for its golden sands and blue waters, and Parai Beach in Bangka, famous for its sunsets.

Beyond its natural splendor, Bangka Belitung is a melting pot of diverse cultures and traditions. The province is home to a blend of Malay, Chinese, and indigenous cultures, which have influenced the region's cuisine, architecture, and way of life. Traditional Malay houses adorned with intricate woodcarvings can be found in the province, along with bustling markets teeming with fresh seafood and spices.

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Economic development

Bangka Belitung’s economy has experienced a positive trend in recent years, with its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) increasing from Rp 57 trillion in 2022 to Rp 60 trillion in 2023. The processing industry sector contributed the most to the GRDP in 2023 with Rp 12.7 trillion or 21.15 percent, followed by the agriculture sector with Rp 7.4 trillion or 19.49 percent, and the trade sector with Rp 8.6 trillion or 15.69 percent.

Notably, the name "Bangka" in Bangka Belitung is derived from the Sanskrit word Wangka meaning tin, which has historically been the mainstay of the local economy. Tin mining in the province started in the first century during the Palembang Empire, and since then, the province has been a significant contributor to national tin mining output, accounting for around 90 percent. This substantial contribution has made Indonesia the world’s second-largest tin reserve holder, after China, with reserves totaling 800,000 tonnes.

However, the mining sector’s contribution to Bangka Belitung’s GRDP declined by a negative 1.20 percent in 2023, indicating a shift in the province’s economic independence from natural resources to other socioeconomic resources.

Nevertheless, despite this shift, the mining sector remains Bangka Belitung’s most lucrative business opportunity, with Rp 1.9 trillion in investment growth in 2023. This was followed by investments in the metals industry at Rp 1.8 trillion, the food industry at Rp 1.1 trillion, and agriculture at Rp 962 billion. Overall, the province received Rp 9 trillion in investment in 2023, including Rp 1.07 trillion from foreign investors and Rp 7,9 trillion from domestic investors.

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Latest News

July 9, 2025

Bangka Belitung Islands Governor Hidayat Arsani received a group of investors from Singapore during ther official visit to Pangkalpinang City, Bangka Belitung Islands on July 2, 2025. In the meeting, the representatives of Singaporean investors expressed their interest in investing up to Rp40 trillion in the province.

"I welcome and give my appreciation for the desire of Singaporean investors to invest in this area," said Hidayat as quoted by Antara.

The planned investment projects will focus on developments in several strategic sectors of Bangka Belitung, with the projects encompassing large-scale chicken farms, development of tourism areas, construction of golf courses, and important infrastructure such as airports and ports.

Hidayat explained that the investment plan in the livestock sector, especially chicken farming, will be developed systematically at a large scale.

"Specifically for chicken farming, this investment will be developed at a large scale so that it can meet the needs of the people in this region," said the governor.

In addition, tourism attractions are also the main focus of investors. To support the increase in the number of tourist visits, they are interested in building modern ports and airports in Bangka Belitung. The construction is considered crucial by the regional government to strengthen regional accessibility and encourage sustainable growth of the tourism sector.

"To increase tourist visits, we need a good port and airport," Hidayat emphasized.

The provincial government sees this plan as a golden opportunity, as foreign investors' interest on Bangka Belitung Islands' potential is seen as a positive signal for local economic growth, job creation, and improving community welfare.

Hidayat also stated that his local administration is very open to foreign investment, but he emphasized that any plans will still undergo thorough review and strategic consideration to ensure that the investment truly provides long-term benefits and does not harm the environmental or social aspects.

"The desire of investors from Singapore is very good, but we will consider [thoroughly] it first," he concluded.

If this plan is realized, Bangka Belitung Islands has the potential to experience a major surge of infrastructure and real economy development. This investor visit opens a promising new chapter for the future of this island province.

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