Province

West Sulawesi

Overview Economy

West Sulawesi

Located in the western part of Sulawesi island, West Sulawesi is a province in Indonesia that covers an area of 16,594.75 square kilometers as of 2022. It is bordered by Central Sulawesi to the east, South Sulawesi to the south, and the Makassar Strait to the west. West Sulawesi’s administrative region consists of six regencies: Majene, Polewali Mandar, Mamasa, Mamuju, Pasangkayu, and Central Mamuju. The capital city of the province is Mamuju, serving as the economic and administrative center of West Sulawesi.

Demographically, West Sulawesi has a population primarily consisting of indigenous ethnic groups such as the Mandar, Toraja Mamasa, Pattae, and Kalumpang people. Although the Mandar people are considered the largest ethnic group in the province, the population of West Sulawesi also consists of other ethnic groups who relocated from various parts of Indonesia, such as the Bugis, Javanese, Balinese, Sasak, and East Nusa Tenggara people. As for religion, the majority of the population in the province are Muslims, followed by Christians, Catholics, Hindus, Buddhists, Konghucu, and adherents of indigenous beliefs.

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West Sulawesi’s economy

Based on data from the West Sulawesi Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the province recorded a Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Rp 35.4 billion in 2023. The province’s economy is known to be driven by the mining, agriculture, and fishing sectors. Consistent with this, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors dominate contributions to the GRDP, totaling Rp 13.9 billion. This is mainly attributed to agriculture, livestock, hunting, and agriculture services, which collectively amount to Rp 10.2 billion.

The manufacturing sector made the second-largest contribution to West Sulawesi’s GRDP in 2023, achieving Rp 4.1 billion, mainly from the manufacture of food products and beverages, which accounted for Rp 3.7 billion.

The third most contributing sector to the province’s GRDP in 2023 is wholesale and retail trade, including the repair of motors, with Rp 3.4 billion. Out of this figure, the majority came from wholesale and retail trade, totaling Rp 2.8 billion.

Additionally, a national strategic project (PSN) is also being developed in the province, namely the Budong-Budong dam.

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Latest News

October 1, 2025

The Gema Sulbar annual event returned in 2025 at Manakarra Beach in Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi Province, showcasing the rich culture, culinary delights, and local tourism potential of West Sulawesi.

The festival has officially been included in the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2025 calendar of cultural festivals curated by the Tourism Ministry, which serves as a benchmark for national flagship events to support the promotion of tourism destinations in Indonesia.

Gema Sulbar 2025 features a variety of activities, from traditional arts and culture performances, musical performances, to regional tourist attractions. Furthermore, an exhibition of local micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) products, including food and beverage stalls, are also key draws for tourists and local residents.

The event serves as a strategic platform for regional creative economy and tourism players to introduce their superior products to a wider market. For the culinary tourism sector of West Sulawesi, Gema Sulbar 2025 is a crucial opportunity to elevate the province's distinctive flavors to the national stage.

With Gema Sulbar 2025's inclusion in KEN 2025, the festival was expected to have a greater economic impact on local communities and strengthen West Sulawesi's cultural identity as a vital part of Indonesia's rich tourism heritage.

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