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

May 8, 2025

Honda Makassar Culinary Night (MCN) 2025 was successfully held on Apr. 25-27, 2025 at the Mandala Monument in Makassar City, South Sulawesi Province, attracting more than 15,000 visitors per day. With "Taste of Home - 10 Years, 10 Stories" as its theme, MCN 2025 invited visitors to commemorate the event's 10th anniversary.

Honda supported 99 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) culinary tenants at MCN 2025 with shopping vouchers. It also presented a Honda Scoopy motorcycle product exhibition with the theme "Scoopy Retro Vibin," where visitors can experience the sensation of riding a Honda Scoopy modified into a more retro style at the exhibition booth.

Astra Motor South Sulawesi Marketing Department Head Kresna stated that he was very happy to be able to fully support MCN 2025 and showcase the uniqueness of the modified Honda Scoopy. Kresna hopes that the exhibition can also provide a pleasant experience for consumers.

"We thank everyone who have shown their enthusiasm for Honda Makassar Culinary Night, especially those who have participated in Scoopy Retro Vibin," said Kresna.

Visitors can also play a number of interesting games, ranging from "Feel the Time", "Fallin the Ball", and "Shoot on Target" at the Scoopy Retro Vibin booth. Those who  win the games can get exclusive merchandise from Honda.

Also present at the exhibition booth are Honda's exclusive jersey and the opportunity to obtain attractive promos on Honda motorcycles.

MCN 2025 was also enlivened by various events, ranging from music performances, dances, and other events that were followed with enthusiasm by visitors. Honda also distributed several exclusive prizes to some visitors.

"We are also certainly very happy to be able to fully support this activity. We fully appreciate MSMEs who have joined this event, and also support and hope that the culinary appeal of Makassar can be increasingly known by the public," concluded Kresna.

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