Province

East Kalimantan

Overview Economy

East Kalimantan, future center of governance

East Kalimantan, situated on the eastern coast of Borneo, is a province known for its diverse natural and cultural heritage. With a total area of 129,000 square kilometers, the province is home to a population of 4.91 million people as of 2023, with the majority identifying as Muslims.

Influenced by centuries of migration, trade, and indigenous customs, East Kalimantan is a cultural melting pot inhabited by numerous ethnic groups, each with its own language, customs, and rituals. Among these ethnic groups are the Daya, Kutai, and Bugis people. Notably, the Dayak people offer insights into Borneo’s ancient past through their traditional longhouses, wood carvings, and spiritual beliefs. Conversely, the Kutai people provide insights into the region's marine heritage, given their historical significance as one of Indonesia's oldest kingdoms. In addition, the province's cuisine, architecture, and cultural practices reflect centuries of cross-cultural interaction, influenced notably by Bugis traders and settlers.

East Kalimantan’s capital, Samarinda, is home to notable locations such as the Mulawarman Museum, which displays relics spanning the region’s prehistoric, colonial, and modern eras. Additionally, Tenggarong's Kutai Sultanate Palace, with its ancient relics and traditional architecture, provides a glimpse into the kingdom's royal past.

Apart from its cultural heritage, East Kalimantan is well-known for its natural diversity, encompassing vast rainforests, rivers, wetlands, and diverse fauna. The province is home to one of Indonesia's largest protected areas, the Kutai National Park, which harbors a variety of plant and animal species, including clouded leopards, sun bears, and orangutans. Moreover, East Kalimantan hosts the Mahakaman River, the province’s longest river, which serves as a vital resource for irrigation, transportation, and fishing, sustaining surrounding villages.

Show more

Economic development

In terms of its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), East Kalimantan has been dependent on the mining sector, accounting for Rp 227 trillion (43.19 percent) in 2023 and Rp 235 trillion (53.18 percent) in 2022 of that respective year’s GRDP, followed by the processing industry sector with Rp 104 trillion (17.73 percent) in 2023 and Rp 99 trillion (15.04 percent) in 2022.

This positive economic growth is closely tied to the success of the provincial authority in attracting investments into the province, which amounted to Rp 71.89 trillion in 2023, surpassing the initial target of Rp 64.5 trillion. Out of this total figure, foreign investment contributed up to Rp 19.72 trillion (27.43 percent), while domestic investment reached Rp 52.17 trillion (72.57 percent).

Subsequently, the influx of investment in 2023 propelled the province into the top four provinces for domestic investment, following Jakarta, West Java, and East Java, while it ranked tenth in terms of foreign investment destinations.

Notably, East Kalimantan is home to the Nusantara Capital City (IKN), poised to become Indonesia’s new capital city. Currently undergoing development, the IKN has initiated various construction projects, thereby contributing to the province’s construction sector. One such project includes state-owned energy company PT Pertamina’s Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP). Additionally, the IKN’s development has contributed to the electricity and gas procurement sector, as well as the monetary and insurance services sector in East Kalimantan.

Show more

Latest News

November 13, 2025

East Kalimantan Province's investment realization reached Rp 23.36 trillion in the second quarter of 2025. East Kalimantan Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Office (DPMPTSP) Head Fahmi Prima Laksana stated that this achievement marks a 29.38 percent year-on-year (yoy) growth compared to the Rp 16.5 trillion achieved in Q2 2024.

"This is broken down into Rp 19.82 trillion of domestic investment realization (from 15,491 projects), and US$239.19 million or Rp 3.54 trillion of foreign investment realization (from 881 projects)," he divulged in an official statement on Oct. 16, 2025.

Cumulatively, the total jobs created by realized investments to East Kalimantan by Q2 2025 reached 21,465 jobs, consisting of employment for 17,661 Indonesian workers and 15 foreign workers. Job creation was highest in Paser Regency with 3,558 jobs created, followed by Samarinda City with 3,210 jobs and Balikpapan City with 2,960 jobs. 

Geographically, East Kutai Regency led the way in realized domestic investment value at Rp 7.38 trillion, or 37.25 percent of the total domestic investment realization. Balikpapan City was second with Rp 3.96 trillion or 19.97 percent, followed by Kutai Kartanegara Regency with Rp 2.57 trillion or 13.01 percent.

By business sector, mining was the largest contributor to domestic investments towards East Kalimantan with Rp 8.57 trillion, or 43.26 percent of the total domestic investment realization. The food crops, plantations, and livestock sector ranked second with Rp 4.15 trillion or 20.98 percent, followed by the food manufacturing sector with Rp 1.32 trillion or 6.7 percent.

The food crops, plantations, and livestock sector also created the most jobs for Indonesian workers at 6,633 jobs or 37.57 percent out of total domestic jobs created by investments to East Kalimantan by Q2 2025, surpassing the mining sector which created 3,232 jobs or 18.31 percent. Thus, the agricultural sector remains the backbone of job creation despite lower investment value.

For foreign investments to East Kalimantan by Q2 2025, Berau Regency led with US$91 million (about Rp 1.45 trillion) or 38.05 percent of total realized foreign investments. It is followed by Kutai Kartanegara Regency with US$53.61 million (Rp 857.9 billion) or 22.42 percent, and East Kutai Regency with US$47.32 million (Rp 757.47 billion) or 19.79 percent.

By sector, paper and printing manufacturing dominated foreign investments with US$60.84 million or 25.44 percent of total foreign investment realization to East Kalimantan by Q2 2025, followed by mining with US$54.99 million or 22.99 percent as well as food crops, plantations, and livestock with US$48.32 million or 20.2 percent.

In terms of investment country of origin, Mauritius led with US$60.84 million from two major projects, or 33.03 percent of total foreign investments to East Kalimantan by Q2 2025. Malaysia ranked second with US$43.83 million from 128 projects, or 23.79 percent, while the People's Republic of China ranked third with US$34.03 million from 79 projects, or 18.47 percent.

Nationally, East Kalimantan ranked fifth for domestic investment by Q2 2025 after the provinces of Jakarta, West Java, East Java, and Banten. In comparison, East Kalimantan is fifteenth in terms of foreign investment realization.

In terms of total investment value by H1 2025, East Kalimantan ranks eighth nationally behind the provinces of West Java, Jakarta, East Java, Central Sulawesi, Banten, Central Java, and North Maluku with a total realized investment value of Rp 43.47 trillion as of June 2025, or 54.44 percent of its Rp 79.86 trillion annual target for 2025.

Read more
October 1, 2025
August 4, 2025
July 2, 2025
June 9, 2025
May 14, 2025
April 23, 2025
April 7, 2025
March 17, 2025
Load more