Makassar

Makassar – Historic port city and gateway to East Indonesia

By any reasonable metric, South Sulawesi's provincial capital of Makassar is one of the most important cities in the country. As far back as the Gowa Sultanate, it has served as an important seaport and as a gateway to East Indonesia. In the modern era, in addition to its importance as a seaport, Makassar is also an equally valuable air hub, connecting western islands like Sumatra and Java with eastern ones like Maluku and Papua. At 175.77 square kilometers and with a population of 1.454 million, it is the largest city in the eastern half of Indonesia.

The city's rich heritage as a port city has resulted in a mixing of numerous different cultures over the centuries, such as ethnic Makassar and Bugis and Chinese peoples. This diversity accumulated through history means there is a wealth of sights to visit to immerse oneself in this city. Immediately accessible for is its Losari Beach waterfront promenade with its views and ambiance, as well as Amirul Mukminin Mosque built above the sea on concrete pillars. Further away are a variety of destinations that include Fort Rotterdam (a historic Dutch Fortress) and Khayangan and Samalona islands. You can also get a glimpse into the city's traditional Phinisi boats at Paotere Port. Makassar is also notably known as a culinary center, being the origin of many of the nation's favorite dishes, such as Coto Makassar soup.

Befitting of being one of the biggest cities in the archipelago, Makassar and its economy continue to rake in big numbers. In the third quarter of 2023, its investment was Rp 4.935 trillion, much higher than the Rp 3.021 trillion in received in investment in the same period in the previous year. It grew 5.31 percent in 2023, with its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at current prices that year being

Rp 226.09 trillion. Its biggest GRDP contributors were the wholesale and retail trade industry (at Rp 45.43 trillion or 20 percent), the manufacturing industry (at Rp 42.70 trillion or 18.8 percent), and the construction industry (at Rp 41.30 trillion or 18 percent).