Province

Maluku

Overview Economy

Maluku – Maluku

Maluku is a provincial territory encompassing the southern region of the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. It covers an area of 46,150 square kilometers, with only about 7.6 percent of the province's surface being land, while the remaining 92.4 percent consists of sea. To the north, Maluku is bordered by the Seram Sea, while the Indian Ocean and Arafura Sea lie to the south, Papua to the east, and Sulawesi to the west. Ambon, the largest city in the province, also serves as its capital and administrative center. Maluku’s administrative area is divided into nine districts and two cities.

Before its establishment as a separate province in 1999, the Maluku Islands constituted a unified province within Indonesia. However, a division occurred that year, separating the northern region, including the North Maluku regency, Central Halmahera regency, and the city of Ternate, to establish the distinct province of North Maluku

The province boasts a population of 1.9 million people and presents a diverse community. The majority of the population consists of indigenous Maluku locals from various tribes such as Alifuru, Ambon, Buru, Kei, and Tanimbar. Maluku’s religious landscape is dominated by Muslims at 52.70 percent of the population, followed by Christians at 39.58 percent, and Catholics at 6.87 percent. Other religions make up less than 1 percent of the population.

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Economic Description

As of the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023, Maluku’s economy thrived with Rp 8 trillion in Gross Domestic Regional Product (GRDP). The province’s economic landscape is primarily driven by the agriculture and fisheries sector, which contributed Rp 2 trillion to the GRDP. Transportation also plays a significant role in the region's leading sectors, with a contribution of Rp 403 billion.

Additionally, apart from agriculture, fisheries, and transportation, two other significant contributors to Maluku’s Q4 GRDP are the government administration, contributing Rp 1.8 trillion, and the wholesale and retail trade sector, including car and motorcycle repairs, which contributed Rp 1.2 trillion.

The province’s agriculture sector is led by the production of coconuts at 107,776 tonnes, followed by cloves at 21,435 tonnes, and cocoa at 8,287 tonnes. Meanwhile, Maluku’s fisheries sector is most well-known for its catch in tuna and skipjack, with capture fisheries contributing around 52,865 tonnes of tuna and 38,759 tonnes of skipjack as of 2022. Additionally, there is significant market potential for grouper and shrimp cultivation, seaweed cultivation, the seaweed processing industry, as well as the preserving and processing industry for tuna and skipjack fishery products.

Regarding the transportation sector, there is a market potential for sea, air, and land transport. As Maluku is an archipelago with 1,340 islands, air transport activity is increasing along with the province’s economic activity. Currently, Maluku boasts 64 ports; however, a strategic expansion plan is necessary to optimize its maritime capabilities.

Furthermore, Maluku presents several investment opportunities focusing on tourism such as the Rhun Island Breda Pala Resort, and in the agro-industry such as integrated capture fisheries and processing. Additionally, the province has several national strategic projects (PSN), including the Ambon New Port, and the Way Apu Dam.

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Latest News

June 18, 2025

The Maluku Provincial Government is striving to optimize the potential of three fisheries management areas (WPP) to produce the best tuna that can meet export standards to the international market.

"Maximizing the potential of fisheries resources in Maluku Province, especially tuna, is spread across three WPPs, namely WPP 714 Banda Sea, WPP 715 Seram Sea and WPP 718 Aru Sea," said Maluku Province Regional Secretary Sadali Ie in Ambon City, Maluku Province on May 25, 2025.

Sadali explained that the three WPPs are potential areas for national tuna production, and have been included in the national plan for managing tuna, skipjack tuna, and mackerel tuna capture fisheries based on Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister's Decree No. 107/KEPMEN-KP/2015; which has been aligned with the 2025-2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN).

"The dominant type of tuna is yellow fin tuna, which has so far been caught traditionally using small-scale fishing gear, and its quality is able to compete in the international market," he said.

He explained that several efforts were made to optimize tuna production in WPP 714, which include increasing the work capacity of fishermen, improving fish landing infrastructure, and increasing supervision of illegal fishing.

Meanwhile, efforts to optimize tuna capture in WPP 715 include increasing research and development of fishing technology and increasing cooperation between fishermen and the fish processing industry.

In WPP 718, work to optimize capture fisheries production encompass improving supporting infrastructure, such as fishing ports and fish processing facilities, and increasing supervision of illegal fishing.

The Maluku Provincial Government is also optimizing fisheries production by realizing the Maluku Integrated Port Development Programm which has now been included in one of three national strategic projects (PSNs) in the region. The Maluku Integrated Port is designed to support industrial activities, distribution, trade, logistics management, as well as loading and unloading activities in an integrated manner

Sadali said that the construction of said integrated port is expected to increase interest in tuna production from Maluku.

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