Province

East Nusa Tenggara

Overview Economy

East Nusa Tenggara

East Nusa Tenggara is a province in Indonesia that encompasses a diverse landscape spread across numerous islands in the southern part of the archipelago. Covering an area of 46,452 square kilometers, the province comprises more than 500 islands, with the major ones being Flores, Sumba, and Timor, the largest island in the province.

Administratively, East Nusa Tenggara is divided into 21 regencies and one municipality, namely Kupang, which holds the title for the smallest area, spanning just 152.59 square kilometers, and serves as the capital city of the province. Given its island geography, accessing the capital requires various transportation modes. Land routes are utilized for regencies on Timor island, including Kupang Regency, South Central Timor, North Central Timor, Belu, Malaka, and Kupang City, while other areas rely on sea and/or air travel.

As of 2024, up to 5.6 million reside in the province, with this population primarily consisting of Christians and Catholics, followed by Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. Additionally, several people in Sumba island also practice the indigenous belief of Marapu.

In terms of demographic makeup, East Nusa Tenggara is equally varied with diverse ethnic groups. This includes the dominant indigenous people of Atoni, Manggarai, Sumba, Solor, Ngada, Timor Leste, Rote, Lio, Alor, and Sawu, alongside Kalimantan, Javanese, Sulawesi, Bugis, West Nusa Tenggara, Papuan, Maluku, Chinese, Balinese, and Batak people.

Show more

East Nusa Tenggara’s economy

East Nusa Tenggara’s economy, based on its 2023 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), experienced a growth of 3.52 percent compared to the previous year, achieving a total of Rp 75.2 billion.

The province’s economy relies heavily on the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector, which happens to be the largest contributor to the province’s GRDP with Rp 20.8 billion. The second most prominent economic sector in the province is the wholesale and repair trade, including the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, which contributed Rp 9.2 billion. Lastly, the construction sector is the third largest contributor to East Nusa Tenggara’s 2023 GRDP, with Rp 7.8 billion.

National strategic projects (PSNs) are also being developed in East Nusa Tenggara, which encompasses sectors such as ports, airports, and dams. In the port sector, the Labuan Bajo Multipurpose Terminal and the development of Kupang Port are underway in the province. Additionally, PSNs such as Komodo Labuan Bajo Airport, Mbay dam, Napun Gete dam, Temef dam, and Manikin dam, and the super-priority tourism destination development program (DPSP) in Labuan Bajo, are also underway.

Show more

Latest News

March 28, 2025

East Nusa Tenggara Governor Melki Laka Lena and East Sumba Deputy Regent Yonathan Hani signed a strategic cooperation agreement on behalf of East Nusa Tenggara and East Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, respectively, with Jakarta Special Capital Region (DKI) Governor Pramono Anung in a closed meeting held on Mar. 22, 2025.

The cooperation aims to strengthen relations between the regions in various sectors, from the overall economy to the empowerment of micro enterprises. Several important points agreed upon in the meeting include:

  1. Opening Up for Investment: The DKI Jakarta Government is committed to opening investment opportunities in NTT to support economic growth and regional development;
  2. Collaboration in Agriculture and Plantations: Increasing the productivity of East Nusa Tenggara's agricultural and plantation sectors through the use of modern technology, farmer training, and support for market access from DKI Jakarta;
  3. Development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises: DKI Jakarta is ready to support the development of MSMEs in East Nusa Tenggara by providing capital assistance, marketing access, and increasing the capacity of business actors in East Nusa Tenggara;
  4. Delivery of Superior Commodities: The delivery of beef, salt, and seaweed from East Nusa Tenggara to Jakarta, which is expected to expand the market for East Nusa Tenggara livestock breeders and farmers while meeting DKI Jakarta's need for food commodities;
  5. Capital Participation in PT Bank Pembangunan Daerah Nusa Tenggara Timur (Bank NTT): The DKI Jakarta Government plans to provide capital participation in Bank NTT to strengthen access of East Nusa Tenggara's local communities to financing and to support the province's banking industry.

Emotional relationships also strengthen this collaboration on top of mutual economic interests. Pramono's wife Endang Nugrahani is known to actively support woven cloth craftsmen in Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, which further strengthens cultural ties between the two regions.

"We are optimistic that this collaboration will have a positive impact and open up new opportunities for the people of East Nusa Tenggara," said Yonathan.

Read more
March 13, 2025
March 3, 2025
February 21, 2025
February 19, 2025
February 3, 2025
January 2, 2025
November 29, 2024
November 6, 2024
Load more