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

March 17, 2026

The Agriculture Ministry is targeting investment in large-scale cattle farms with a population of up to 200,000 heads of cattle in Central Kalimantan Province, which would bedeveloped within an integrated business ecosystem to strengthen the national meat supply sustainably.

"This is part of the national strategy to accelerate self-sufficiency in meat and milk while also developing modern, partnership-based livestock centers," stated Agriculture Minister and National Food Agency Head Andi Amran Sulaiman in Jakarta on Feb. 18, 2025.

He explained that the program is part of the government's long-term agenda to strengthen animal protein sovereignty toward the Indonesia Gold 2045. The development is focused on integrated livestock farms in Sukamara Regency, Central Kalimantan, as a large-scale integrated cattle farming cente that would span about 40,006 hectares (ha) of land with an initial population of less than 1,000 head.

"And the target is to develop up to 200,000 productive breeding stock," Amran added.

The Integrated Cattle Industry concept is implemented by combining beef cattle, dairy cattle, and the relevant industrial processing facilities in one area. This model would be reinforced by integrated cattle-oil palm farming, where grazing is carried out in plantation areas to ensure feed efficiency while simultaneously producing organic fertilizer, thereby increasing added value and business sustainability.

The development would be carried out using a modern grazing system based on research on grasses adapted to marginal land, supported by processing facilities for products such as processed meat and dairy products, as well as regional infrastructure designed to ensure efficient and sustainable operations.

Amran emphasized that as an agricultural country with extensive natural resources, Indonesia must be able to optimize the potential of livestock farming independently and sustainably.

"Indonesia is an agricultural country. The land is vast, the grass grows [verdant], and the resources are there. The important thing is how we manage it well and make it comfortable for investors to act quickly. I expect 100,000 [heads] will be allocated for development [by the nucleus estate], plus an additional 100,000 for smallholders, bringing the total to 200,000," he said.

Amran noted that the key to the program's acceleration lies in simplifying regulations and ensuring business certainty. The government is committed to creating a welcominginvestment climate so that businesses can focus on building industry, expanding livestock populations, and strengthening product downstreaming.

"Indonesia is a large agricultural country. The land is fertile, and the natural resources are vast. But we tend to slow things down by overcomplicating something which could be simplified. Raising cattle is simple, [just] plant the grass, the cows drink and live, and it's done. Sometimes, what makes it complicated is the permits," he continued.

Amran also encouraged the development of large-scale, integrated livestock businesses to significantly impact the national cattle population. He believes that collaboration between the government and the private sector must be directed towards the development of modern, efficient, and long-term production areas.

"If investors are comfortable, they will invest more. But if they're not comfortable, they'll take two steps forward, two steps back. Ten years are wasted on permits. This is what we must fix," he stressed.

To expand economic benefits, the government has prepared a nucleus estate and smallholder (NES) partnership scheme. This scheme allows large companies to become the nucleus estate in partnership with smallholder livestock herders. Financing support is given through the microcredit loan program (KUR) for the agricultural sector, and insurance protection is provided to ensure business sustainability and minimize risk.

"If managed together by a strong nucleus and growing smallholders, the economy will be stimulated. The state will be there to support financing and protection. Entrepreneurs will thrive, and the community will prosper," Amran emphasized.

The development targets for the integrated cattle industry program encompass increasing the productive cattle breeding stock population, strengthening national meat and milk production, creating local jobs, as well as stimulating economic growth in the surrounding region.

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