Province

West Kalimantan

Overview Economy

West Kalimantan, province of the “city of the equator”

Located on the island of Borneo, West Kalimantan is the most populous province on the island with a population of 5.56 million people as of 2023. The majority of this population adheres to Islam at 60 percent, followed by Catholicism at 22.16 percent, Christianity at 11.58 percent, Buddhism at 5.85 percent, and Confucianism and Hinduism both at 0.26 percent.

Geographically, West Kalimantan is strategically adjacent to the Archipelago Sea Lines of Indonesia I (ALKI I), an international shipping route connecting South and West Asia. This proximity has provided the province with significant geographic leverage, enabling it to advance the interests of both the province and its citizens. The province’s capital city is Pontianak, known as the "city of the equator" due to its location on the imaginary line dividing the planet into its north and south hemispheres.

West Kalimantan is widely recognized for its biodiversity, encompassing various ecosystems ranging from mangrove swamps to tropical rainforests. These habitats support a variety of plants and animals, including endangered species such as pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, and orangutans. The province is also home to many protected sites, including the Gunung Palung National Park and the Danau Sentarum National Park. Additionally, West Kalimantan is known for its extensive peatlands, which play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and climate regulation.

Culturally, numerous indigenous groups, each with its distinct traditions, languages, and customs, live in the province. These groups include the Malay, Chinese, and Dayak groups. Notably, the province’s traditional longhouse or rumah panjang are iconic symbols of Dayak culture, which serve as communal homes for extended families.

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Economic development

West Kalimantan relies primarily on agriculture, with many locals relying on it for their means of subsistence. From 2021 onwards, the province’s GRDP has mainly been attributed to this sector, accounting for 23.94 percent in 2021, 23.28 percent in 2022, and 22.65 percent in 2023. The province is well-known for producing palm oil, rice, and rubber.

Following agriculture, the processing sector is the next significant contributor to West Kalimantan’s GRDP, accounting for 16.09 percent in 2021, 15.94 percent in 2022, and 15.65 percent in 2023, along with the trade sector at 13.64 percent in 2021, 14.60 percent in 2022, and 15.06 percent in 2023. Additionally, the mining and forestry sectors play significant roles in the region’s economy.

Exports also contribute to West Kalimantan’s economy. In 2023, key exported products included inorganic chemicals, fat and animal oil, and rubber, contributing 49.44 percent, 25.74 percent, and 7.89 percent of total exports, respectively. In January 2024, West Kalimantan’s main export destinations were India with a value of US$63.39 million, China with US$38.10 million, and Japan with US$14.12 million. Together, these three countries accounted for 70.89 percent of exported goods from the province.

Furthermore, West Kalimantan’s economy is supported by the Kapuas River, the longest river in Indonesia, stretching 1,143 kilometers from the heart of Kalimantan to the Karimata Strait, nearly the length of Java Island. The river serves as a crucial resource for local communities, supporting trade, industry, shipping, residences, and tourism.

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Latest News

June 25, 2025

The Supadio Airport in Pontianak City, West Kalimantan Province will soon serve international flights after having its international status suspended some time ago.

Airport state-owned enterprise (SOE) PT Angkasa Pura (InJourney Airports) Supadio International Airport Executive General Manager Muhamad Iwan Sutisna stated that the airport has made various preparations to welcome the international flight, which include intensive coordination with stakeholders, such as the relevant custom, immigration, and quarantine (CIQ) agencies, as well as several improvements to facilities that support international operations at the airport.

"We met with the West Kalimantan Governor on June 23 alongside a team from Air Asia to discuss this [airport]," said Iwan on June 24, 2025.

He revealed that Air Asia Berhad will soon open international flights from Supadio Airport with two main routes, namely Pontianak-Kuala Lumpur and Pontianak-Kuching. Moreover, Iwan emphasized that the realized start of international flights to and from the airport would take place in the near future.

"We cannot reveal the exact time because it is still in the process [of being realized] by both the airport and its stakeholders as well as the airlines," he explained.

In addition, the international licensing process, including approval of routes and flight schedules, is still ongoing at the Transporation Ministry.

"Insya Allah, there will be no problems with the licensing [process]," added Iwan.

Supadio Airport is also communicating with Singapore Airlines subsidiary Scoot to open other international routes.

"We are also exploring cooperation with other domestic airlines, but we cannot mention [which one] yet because it is still in the approach stage to the head office," he concluded.

Association of Indonesian Travel Agencies (Asita) West Kalimantan Chair Ifan Ronaldo Barus revealed that Asita has provided input to airlines that will open international routes at Supadio Airport.

"The result of our meeting with Air Asia at that time was to recommend that the price [for international routes] should not be too high," stated Ifan on June 24, 2025.

He added that Asita recommended a fare between Rp350,000 to Rp 600,000 for the Pontianak-Kuching route and between Rp550,000 to Rp900,000 for the Pontianak-Kuala Lumpur route.

"They are calculated based on data before the [airport's international] operation was suspended," Ifan explained.

He also noted that the people of West Kalimantan's enthusiasm to visit Kuala Lumpur is very high.

"Air Asia must be able to identify this market well," he said.

Asita hopes that the opening of international flights at Supadio Airport could be to the benefit and convenience in traveling and interacting of the peoples of Malaysia and West Kalimantan.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Consul in Pontianak Azizul Zekri Abd Rahim welcomed the plan to reopen direct international flights from Pontianak to Kuching and to Kuala Lumpur. Communication between the involved parties intensified after the official visit by an AirAsia delegation to West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan on June 23, 2025.

Azizul accompanied the delegation led by Indonesia AirAsia Indonesia Affairs and Policy Head Eddy Krismaedi, which was also joined by Sarawak AirAsia Berhad Director Hamdan Mohamad. The meeting discussed the plan to reopen the Pontianak-Kuching and Pontianak-Kuala Lumpur flight routes following the return of the international status of Supadio Airport Pontianak which was inaugurated on June 4, 2025.

Azizul expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian government, particularly the West Kalimantan Provincial Government, for facilitating the return of Supadio Airport Pontianak's international status. He added that the number of West Kalimantan residents visiting Sarawak by land has increased significantly over the past few years.

"He (Governor Ria) hopes that the reopening of Pontianak-Kuching and Pontianak-Kuala Lumpur flights will increase the number of visitors between both countries and further improve the economy of Malaysia and Indonesia," said Azizul.

The AirAsia delegation also hopes that there will be more direct flights from Pontianak to other cities in Malaysia in the future to strengthen relations and cooperation between the two countries.

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