Province

Central Kalimantan

Central Kalimantan

Central Kalimantan, situated in the heart of Borneo island, is a province with Palangkaraya as its capital city. With a population of 2.75 million people in 2023, it stands as the least populous province on the island. The majority of this population identifies as Muslims. 

Central Kalimantan is notably home to the Dayak people, who possess a culture of unique traditions and customs with its subgroups of Ngaju, Ot Danum, and the Ma’anyan. Several ethnic groups from outside the island also live in the province, such as the Malay, Madurese, Sundanese, Balinese, Bugis, Batak, and Flores people. Additionally, Central Kalimantan’s culture is defined by its cuisine, which gained the recognition of the Tourism Ministry in 2023. The province’s notable dishes include fried lais fish, roasted catfish (patin), juhu rotan baung, kandas sarai, and jelawat soup.

North Kalimantan’s culture is also shaped by its history as a trading center, which has led to influences from Malay, Chinese, and Arab cultures. Subsequently, the province has drawn a considerable number of tourists, totaling 1.8 million in 2023, surpassing the initial target of 800,000.

Furthermore, the province boasts an abundance of natural wonders, including rainforests, rivers, and exotic wildlife. The world’s largest tropical rainforest lies in North Kalimantan, harboring an array of plant and animal species endemic to Borneo. Additionally, rivers such as the Kahayan and Kapuas rivers have functioned as lifelines for the local communities, providing transportation, irrigation, and sustaining livelihoods.

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Economic development

Central Kalimantan is driven by various sectors that have contributed to its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP). In 2023, the province’s GRDP was primarily driven by the agriculture, forestry, and fishery sector, with a contribution of Rp 23 trillion. This sector also experienced a growth rate of 4.41 percent in 2023 from 3.63 percent in 2022.

Following closely behind is the processing industry sector with a GRDP of Rp 17.9 trillion in 2023, and the mining sector with Rp 15.7 trillion. While the processing industry sector experienced a growth in its GRDP from Rp 16.9 trillion in 2022, the mining sector recorded a higher GRDP in 2022 with Rp 16.6 trillion.

Furthermore, recent investment trends in Central Kalimantan have shown positive growth, with investment realization in the province increasing by 32.44 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year. Initially, the Investment Ministry set a target of Rp 16.09 trillion for investments in the province, which was exceeded by Rp 19.10 trillion (118.74 percent) by the year’s end.

Foreign investment dominated the investment landscape in Central Kalimantan, amounting to Rp 10.32 trillion, while Rp 8.78 trillion originated from domestic investment sources. The agriculture and farming sector was recorded as the sector absorbing the highest investment, followed by the mining sector. Additionally, the growth in the food processing industry sector indicates that this sector could potentially become a leading sector for investment in the province.

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Latest News

May 21, 2025

The Besei Kambe Competition is once again the main attraction at this year's Isen Mulang Cultural Festival (FBIM) in Palangka Raya City, Central Kalimantan Province. This traditional competition is increasingly gaining attention because of its unique location and the way of competing that is characteristic of coastal communities.

Besei Kambe is a traditional sport where two people on a boat row in opposite directions to pull each other until they cross the boundary line, akin to tug on war but held atop a riverine vessel.

The Central Kalimantan Culture and Tourism Office (Disbudpar) emphasized that Besei Kambe is one of the most anticipated cultural agendas this year, especially since the local decorated boat parade has been officially canceled.

"Besei Kambe remains the mainstay competition in FBIM because of its uniqueness of being held on the river. This [tournament] also becomes [part of] the local community's cultural identity," said Acting Central Kalimantan Disbudpar Secretary Agung Catur Prabowo on May 20, 2025.

This year, the event saw participation from 11 of  Central Kalimantan's regencies and cities, namely Palangka Raya City as well as the regencies of Kapuas, Pulang Pisau, Katingan, South Barito, North Barito, Murung Raya, West Kotawaringin, Seruyan, Lamandau, and Sukamara.

Besei Kambe Competition Coordinator R. Jimmy Gara explained that Besei Kambe's main purpose beyond entertainment is to help preserve Dayak culture, especially by introducing the younger generation to the cultural wealth of ancestral traditions.

"The enthusiasm of the public is extraordinary. There are even foreign tourists who have been looking for information about Besei Kambe long before the event [began]," said Jimmy.

Based on that high enthusiasm, the Central Kalimantan Disbudpar hopes that Besei Kambe can continue to be developed and become an annual cultural icon.

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