Province

North Maluku

Overview Economy

Maluku – North Maluku

Covering an area of 31,982 square kilometers, and home to a population of 1.3 million people, North Maluku is a province in eastern Indonesia surrounded by seas. To the east is the Halmahera Sea, the Maluku Sea lies to the west, the Pacific Ocean stretches to the north, and the Seram Sea borders to the south. The province is divided into eight districts and two cities.

Historically, North Maluku was formally established on October 4, 1999, through Law No. 46/1999. Previously, the province functioned as a district within Maluku province, adjoining Central Halmahera. At the time of its establishment, Ternate was designated as the provincial capital. This arrangement persisted for 11 years until 2010 when the capital city was relocated to Sofifi, situated on the mainland of Halmahera, the largest island in the Maluku Islands.

The people of North Maluku represent a diverse group with a rich history and culture. The province is home to a range of ethnic groups, each with its own unique culture and language. Among them are the Madole, Pagu, Ternate, and West Makian people.

In terms of religion, Islam dominates North Maluku’s religious landscape, with 74.7 percent of the population adhering to it, followed by a significant Christian population of 24.74 percent. Other religions collectively make up less than 1 percent of the population.

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Economic Description

North Maluku boasts a robust economy, having acquired Rp 48 trillion in Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) as of 2023. The top three contributing sectors are the processing industry, mining, and agriculture. The processing industry leads with Rp 14 trillion, followed by the mining sector at Rp 9 trillion, and the agriculture sector at Rp 4 trillion.

Within the processing industry, the base metal subsector contributes the most with Rp 13 trillion, almost over 90 percent of the entire industry. As of 2023, the processing industry witnessed a 48.12 percent year-on-year increase.

Regarding the mining sector, North Maluku is one of the provinces known for its downstream mineral resources. One mineral resource, nickel, has shown substantial positive effects in terms of its downstream development in the country. With North Maluku’s mining sector ranking among the top contributors to its GRDP, total investments in the province reached US$ 9.8 billion by 2022, with the majority directed towards this sector.

Furthermore, North Maluku’s agricultural sector mainly produces coconuts, cloves, nutmegs, cassava, sweet potatoes, cayenne, and plantains. Out of these commodities, coconuts account for over 60 percent of the total output. As of 2022, approximately 13,525 hectares of land were available for agricultural investment.

Given the vast and diverse sectors in North Maluku, numerous investment potentials abound in the province, ranging from the smelter nickel sulfate sector to resorts in the tourism sector. Additionally, North Maluku is home to a special economic zone (SEZ) on Morotai Island, strategically positioned in the outer zone of the eastern sea.

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Latest News

June 2, 2025

The smiles of children spread while waiting for the fishing boat they were on to dock at Jailolo Harbor in West Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province at 09.46 Central Indonesia Time on May 28, 2025.

For about an hour, their vessel sailed in Jailolo Bay with six others for Sigofi Ngolo - a ritual to request permission from nature so that the 2025 Jailolo Bay Festival activities would run smoothly.

The sacred ritual involving indigenous people is usually carried out before the start of the Jailolo Bay Festival. It was attended by people from various ages, with Jaililo Sultan Ahmad Sjah also taking part.

"This activity is a tradition from our ancestors," said Ahmad.

The Sigofi Ngolo ritual begins with the gathering of the local community at Jailolo Harbor in the morning, including indigenous people from the Jailolo Sultanate's Palace area.

Several boats from traditional villages and local fishermen then transported the group to Baboa Island, which could be reached in less than 30 minutes via Jailolo Bay.

Baboa Island is considered holy by the people of Jailolo becuase it is believed to be the resting place of their ancestors. There is also a sacred tomb located on the island.

Boats participating in the Sigofi Ngolo ritual are required to circle the island thrice. The ritual continues with a flower-laying activity by the Sultan of Jailolo and other community leaders in Jailolo Bay.

In the final series of activities for Sigofi Ngolo, the participating fishing boats are required to circle the ship carrying the Sultan of Jailolo. Afterwards, all ships may return to the harbor to dock.

The 2025 Jailolo Bay Festival lasted for 4 days on May 28-31, 2025. The event presented various activities, ranging from cultural exhibitions, creative competitions, to adrenaline-pumping sports activities.

"Of course, this year's Jailolo Bay Festival has something different," said West Halmahera Regency Tourism, Youth, and Sports Office Head Fenny Kiat.

This year's Jailolo Bay Festival includes an expedition to Mount Gamkonora, a favorite for climbers in West Halmahera. Dozens of participants from various regions take part in the expedition to the 1,560-meter mountain, with the climb to the top usually taking around 6-7 hours.

In addition, the 2025 Jailolo Bay Festival also has a flying board show, which features a water sport that allows users to float above the surface using water jets attached to their hands and feet.

Moreover, Fenny said that this year's Jailolo Bay Festival has a running activity and Orom Sasadu Kontempor, which is a tradition of eating together with the Sahu community in West Halmahera Regency.

Meanwhile, a traditional rowing competition and music performances on Jailolo Bay Festival 2025's main state are held at the festival's main event on May 31, 2025.

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