Major transport hub links Eastern and Western Indonesia
SOUTH SULAWESI'S ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE IS HIGH AND FOREIGN PARTNERS ARE BEING SOUGHT FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT

Once known as Celebes, which means “the celebrated ones” in Portuguese, Sulawesi is located almost at the center of the Indonesian archipelago. The island is divided into five provinces of which South Sulawesi is the largest and richest.
Makassar is the capital of South Sulawesi and the focus for the province's business, industry and transport. Its key location means that most goods and people passing between Eastern and Western Indonesia go through Makassar's international airport and container port – the largest in Eastern Indonesia.
A quick look at the Makassar skyline is indicative of the investment interest being shown in South Sulawesi. Luxury hotels and smart new offices abound and communications are among the best in the region. Good roads connect all of South Sulawesi’s towns and even the most remote villages can be reached by four-wheel drive vehicles.

H. Z. B PALAGUNA Governor of South Sulawesi Province

Agriculture remains the province’s largest sector, contributing about 40 percent to the economy. Livestock raised by farmers include beef cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats. A research station is developing new systems of cattle feed to encourage meat production suitable for canning and export.
Governor H.Z.B. Palaguna says most of South Sulawesi’s exports go to the United States and the UK, and both countries have investments in the province. There is also great interest being shown by Japanese, Malaysian, Australian and Chinese entrepreneurs.
Mr. Palaguna also points out that there is now a Sulawesi regional development program to stimulate the island’s overall growth. “The five governors in Sulawesi have agreed to work together to develop the community’s welfare and infrastructure,” he says . “For example, there is a plan to develop a railroad from Manado (the capital of North Sulawesi province) to Makassar.”

THE SEA PORT at Makassar provides container station facilities and is the largest harbor in Eastern Indonesia.

He describes South Sulawesi as a “political, social and economic barometer” for the region. With a well-educated population of more than a million, Makassar is the mover and shaker in the region. The capital’s Hasanuddin University, with 20,000 students enrolled, is the largest in Eastern Indonesia.
South Sulawesi’s annual economic growth rate of around five percent is higher than the Indonesian average and Mr. Palaguna is looking to partnerships with foreign investors in order to further economic development.
Investment opportunities in wood products – including manufacture of paper and board, blockboard, hardboard, plywood, woven rattan, bamboo furniture and garden furniture – are flourishing due to the extent of plantation forestry in the province.

The plantations are divided into both smallholdings and large scale companies, growing a range of products including coconuts, cocoa, sugar cane, palm oil, coffee, cloves, nutmeg, peppers, rubber, tobacco, tea, vanilla and castor oil. The energy potential of the province is also considerable, due to its natural gas sources, coal reserves and abundant rivers which provide enormous possibilities for hydroelectric power.
Sulawesi’s octopus shape, with tentacles reaching out into the surrounding ocean, make fisheries an important activity. Shrimp – currently the most successful export alongside cocoa – skipjack, tuna, and flying fish are all landed on the shores of South Sulawesi.
Mr. Palaguna says that because agriculture remains the main economic activity, the focus of investment is chiefly agribusiness. However, the development of the seaports and airports, as well as tourism, is also high on the agenda.

Sulawesi is a beautiful island, with stunning white beaches and tropical forests with a huge variety of flora and fauna, most of which are indigenous.
Many people who visit are drawn by the superb diving, and the curious shape of the island means you are never more than about 50 miles from the sea.
But increasingly, South Sulawesi is promoting its other scenic attractions. Activities include treks through the forests, hiking in the highlands, trips to steaming volcanic craters, and visits to traditional villages where you watch timber-frame houses being built for flatpack transportation, or wooden boats made in a way that hasn’t changed for centuries.

Before the Dutch took over the island in 1667, there was a thriving kingdom in South Sulawesi, with a population comprising four main tribes. Much of the cultural history is preserved through ceremonies and tribal dances, as well as in handicrafts such as beautifully woven silk, cotton cloths and wooden sculptures.
It is difficult to argue that there is one area of Indonesia that is more beautiful than any other, but Tana Toraja is often regarded as the highlight of any visit to South Sulawesi. Tucked between bamboo and palm trees stand houses with arched roofs which demonstrate the amazing skills of the Toraja people and their mastery of carving and painting. It is here in the heart of the highlands that elaborate rituals are conducted, and guests are welcome to witness the numerous ceremonies and processions.