Ambon

Ambon – City of blue economy

The city of Ambon, surrounded by natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, is a prospective center for economic development within Indonesia's Maluku archipelago. As Maluku provincial capital, Ambon has a range of economic prospects for investors and businesses due to its advantageous position and natural resources.  

Ambon’s heritage dates to the colonial ages when the city was occupied by different European powers of Portugal, Spain, Britain, and the Netherlands looking to monopolize international trade of spices from Maluku. The traces of Ambon’s past glory are still there to see. The city pulsates with music and art festivals, including the annual Ambon Jazz Festival that strengthens Ambon’s image as the city of music as awarded by UNESCO in 2019.

Ambon is a microcosm of Indonesia's cultural diversity, encompassing different ethnicities, languages, and religions. The majority of Ambonese people, predominantly of Maluku descent, adopts Christianity (59 percent) and the rest are mostly Muslims. The city had long been described as an example of religious harmony until 1999 when inter-religious conflict between Christians and Muslims rocked the city and other parts of Maluku. Two decades after the conflict, the city of Ambon again exhibits coexistence between Christians and Muslims.

Ambon has again attracted tourists and investors. Ambon has served as a transit port for marine products destined for other parts of Indonesia and overseas. The marine sector has become one of the biggest economic sectors for the city and the city administration has established a smart fishing village in Poka coastal area focusing on tuna and lobster. The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) makes the city one of its research centers for blue economy, with its Deep-Sea Research Center.

In 2023, Ambon’s population reached 354,052, with life expectancy at 71 years, while those living under poverty line reaching 5.25 percent, and open unemployment at 11.32 percent (as of 2021). Ambon’s Gross Regional Domestic Product totaled Rp 18.5 trillion in 2023, with the public sector contributing 25.46 percent, followed by trading 20.35 percent, transportation and warehousing 11.14 percent.