Bombana Regency invites for shipyard investment

The Bombana Regency Government of Southeast Sulawesi Province is opening investment opportunities for local and foreign entrepreneurs to build shipyards, as there are many ships that need routine repairs and maintenance in the area.

"Bombana has several ferry crossing ports, from [Tondasi-West Muna, Fising Kabaena and Poleang-Bajoe Bone Regency] which certainly need shipyards. Not to mention the steel ships owned by a number of mining companies, which need repairs within a certain period of time," said Bombana Deputy Regent Ahmad Yani in Kendari on Feb. 27, 2025.

He added that the construction of a shipyard does not require a large area, in comparison to control of a mining area, because it only requires a coastal area of ​​2 to 3 hectares (ha).

"This is important [because] it will create jobs for the local community as well as increase locally-generated revenue (PAD) if it is built," Yani explained.

He also revealed that there was once a mining company that opened a shipyard business secretly for internal circles in the region. However, the company must request a legal permit in establishing a docking facility in the future.

"As far as I can remember, only Makassar and Ambon have shipyards in the Southern Sulawesi region. There was one built by fisheries company PT Bonecom in the 80s-90s based in Kasilampe, Kendari City, but it was closed in the 2000s," Yani said.

He ensured that construction of the shipyard could make repairs to ships anchored at Kasipute Bombana Port or from Baubau City to no longer need to be done in Makassar City, South Sulawesi or Ambon City, Maluku Province.

"Currently, the [Bombana] Regency Government does not have the budget to build a shipyard. Hence, the regency government encourages and invites investors to invest [for the shipyard's construction] while the district government will prepare the land and facilitate all construction permits," Yani concluded.