Province

Bengkulu

Overview Economy

Bengkulu, land of Rafflesia Arnoldii

Situated on Sumatra's southwest coast, Bengkulu faces the Indian Ocean and is home to several different ethnic groups, including the Rejang, Serawai, and Pekal people. As of 2023, the province is home to a population of 2.1 million people, with the majority identifying as Muslims according to the 2021 Census.

Bengkulu is rich in natural beauty and landscapes. The Rafflesia Arnoldii flower, which bears the names of two British explorers, Thomas Stanford Raffles, and Dr. Joseph Arnold, is a well-known native of the province. With a bud diameter of one meter, the Rafflesia Arnoldii is one of the world's largest flowers, drawing travelers from all over the world to see its bloom in the tropical forests of Sumatra’s southern region, particularly Bengkulu.

Moreover, the province is home to Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to protecting the area’s biodiversity. Additionally, Bengkulu is well known for its volcano Mount Kaba, and the popular Panjang Beach, boasting a coastline of 7 km, along with its deep jungles.

As a reminder of the colonial era, Bengkulu occupies a role in Indonesian history. The 18th-century British-built Fort Marlborough stands in the province, reflecting Bengkulu’s involvement in the past spice trade and power battles that took place in the area. Another aspect of Bengkulu's history is the Thomas Parr Monument, which honors a worker for the British East India Company.

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Economic landscape

Agriculture is the main engine of Bengkulu's economy, with key crops including coffee, palm oil, and rubber. The province is also well-known for its gold and coal mining sectors, which add to Indonesia's vast natural resources.

In 2023, the province’s economy generated a Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Rp 53 trillion. The agriculture, forestry, and fishery sector led the GRDP with a contribution of Rp 13.9 trillion, followed by the wholesale and retail trade sector, including car and motorcycle repairs, which contributed Rp 8.1 trillion, and the government administration sector with Rp 4.5 trillion.

Notably, investment realization contributes to Bengkulu’s economic landscape. For instance, in the second quarter of 2023, the province saw an investment realization of Rp 4.7 trillion, attributed to investments managed by both large and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Furthermore, South Korean businesses have shown interest in investing in Bengkulu, particularly in shrimp farming and other potential seafood products due to high domestic demand. Apart from that, South Korean investors are also exploring other ventures in tourism, hotels, golf, and cosmetics. Besides South Korea, foreign investments in Bengkulu also mainly originate from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, China, and Singapore.

To further develop economic centers in Bengkulu province, the central government plans to build a Special Economic Zone around the province’s Baai Island, aimed at bolstering industrial and fishery activities. Additionally, the development of Baai Island is meant to improve the connectivity between Bengkulu and other provinces in Sumatra. This initiative is complemented by the existence of the Fatmawati Soekarno Airport, which has been undergoing efforts to expand and renovate its facilities.

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Latest News

December 12, 2025

A plenary session commemorating the 57th anniversary of Bengkulu Province was held at the Bengkulu Legislative Council (DPRD) building on Nov. 18, 2025. In his remarks during the meeting, Bengkulu Governor Helmi Hasan stated that the Bengkulu Provincial Government is currently initiating a breakthrough in the development of the Bengkulu Province Industrial Estate by lobbying Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian and writing to President Prabowo Subianto.

"The Bengkulu Provincial Government, together with the [Bengkulu Province] Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda), the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Bengkulu DPRD, as well as all [Bengkulu] DPRD representatives, are currently working to convince the central government [about the Bengkulu Province Industrial Estate]. I have written to the home affairs minister and the president, and discussed the importance of establishing an industrial zone in Bengkulu Province by phone," Helmi said.

He emphasized that the development of an industrial zone is a strategic step in supporting Indonesia's 8 percent economic growth target set by Prabowo in Bengkulu.

"Bengkulu Province is one of the provinces without an industrial zone. It's like a pipe dream to achieve 8 percent economic growth without an industrial zone," Helmi noted.

He added that his office has communicated with and lobbied port state-owned enterprise (SOE) PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) to provide 100 hectares (ha) of land as the initial stage of the industrial zone's development.

"We have visited and submitted a request for cooperation with Pelindo. Hopefully, what we hope for can be realized starting with the provision of 100 ha of land, similar to the industrial zone in Medan," Helmi concluded.

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