Province

South Sulawesi

Overview Economy

Sulawesi - South Sulawesi

Located on the southern peninsula of Sulawesi Island, South Sulawesi is a province surrounded by several bodies of water and other provinces. To the north, it shares a border with Central Sulawesi and West Sulawesi. On the east, it is bordered by the Gulf of Bone and Southeast Sulawesi, while to the south, the Flores Sea laps the province’s shores.

Covering an area of 46,717 square kilometers, South Sulawesi is home to 9.3 million people, making it the most populous province on the island. Makassar, previously called Ujung Pandang, serves as the province’s capital city and is known as a major port city and center for trade and commerce. It is also recognized as one of the four most important cities in Indonesia for economic growth, alongside Medan, Jakarta, and Surabaya.

Given its large population, South Sulawesi features a diverse mix of ethnicities, religions, and languages. The main ethnic groups in the province include the Bugis, Makassar, Toraja, and Mandar people. In terms of religious beliefs, approximately 89 percent of the population adhere to Islam, followed by 7 percent following Christianity, less than 2 percent practicing Hinduism, and less than 1 percent following other beliefs.

Indonesian serves as the official language of the province. However, South Sulawesi also features a rich tapestry of local languages, with fourteen different local languages existing throughout the region. These languages, including Toraja, Bugis, Makassar, Mandar, Massenrempulu, and Lemolang, as well as Rampi, Seko, Bugis De, Wotu, and Bajo, contribute to the region's rich cultural legacy, each with its own distinctive qualities.

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Economic

As of 2023, South Sulawesi’s economy has been thriving, having acquired Rp 377 trillion in Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP). The province’s economic landscape is primarily driven by the construction sector, contributing Rp 46 trillion to the province’s GRDP. Additionally, agriculture ranks second, contributing Rp 42 trillion, followed by the fisheries sector with Rp 29 trillion.

South Sulawesi is poised for a significant economic boost, particularly due to the region’s booming construction sector. The province’s strategic investments in infrastructure development include modernized transportation networks, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions. Additionally, South Sulawesi has several national strategic projects (PSN) underway, with two completed PSNs focused on the province’s infrastructure, namely the Makassar New Port, which serves as the backbone of maritime transportation in eastern Indonesia, and the Makassar-Parepare Railway, facilitating travel between Makassar and Parepare.

Agriculture-wise, South Sulawesi stands out as an eastern Indonesian powerhouse for food crop production. Crops are the highest contributor to the province’s agricultural GRDP, with food crops contributing nearly 50 percent of the Rp 42 trillion generated by the agricultural sector. Key food crops produced by South Sulawesi include paddy, corn, soya beans, cassava, sweet potato, and mung beans.

Furthermore, the fishing industry saw significant production in 2023, with 492,159 tonnes harvested, surpassing the 436,735 tonnes produced the year before. Most of the catch comes from saltwater fisheries rather than freshwater fisheries.

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Latest News

June 19, 2025

Downstream marine product company Oceva Indonesia Nusantara is targeting investment in South Sulawesi Province within the next six months.

"Because this investment requires official support from the provincial government, it must begin with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that regulates the rights and obligations of the [involved] parties. Furthermore, a letter of support will be issued signed by the regional head," stated South Sulawesi Regional Secretary Jufri Rahman.

He also suggested Takalar Regency as the main location for the construction of the factory, as it is one of the largest seaweed production centers in South Sulawesi.

"They need a minimum of 11 hectares (ha) of land. I have suggested Takalar because it is close to the source of raw materials, so it can reduce transportation costs," Jufri said.

South Sulawesi is one of the national centers of seaweed production. The province's main production sites are in the regencies of Takalar, Maros, Pangkajene and Islands, Bone, and Selayar. Seaweed products from this area are mostly exported to China, Japan, and Europe.

Meanwhile, Oceva founder Fahrana Amelia Lubis explained that the investment plan is part of the company's strategic initiative that has been developed since 2024.

“The agenda is a meeting related to the development of the seaweed industry in South Sulawesi, especially in the Takalar and Maros regions. Today, we are holding a meeting to ask for support from the [South Sulawesi] Provincial Government. The goal is to strengthen the plan for foreign investment in the seaweed processing industry,” she explained.

Fahrana added that South Sulawesi was chosen because it is one of the largest seaweed producing areas in Indonesia.

“Around 65 percent of national seaweed [output] is produced in South Sulawesi. That is why Makassar was chosen as the pilot project for this seaweed downstream industry development,” she added.

Fahrana said that the factory could result in equitable distribution of wealth beyond the seaweed processing industry to seaweed farmers and the local community. If this project is successful, Oceva plans to expand the seaweed industry development towards other provinces in Indonesia.

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