Acting Governor of Gorontalo, Rudy Salahuddin, highlighted Gorontalo’s readiness to emerge as a new economic hub in Eastern Indonesia during a presentation on the province's investment potential and development acceleration. Speaking to ambassadors from Jordan, Oman, Morocco, and Bahrain at Bank Indonesia's Gorontalo office on November 23, 2024, Rudy emphasized Gorontalo's strategic role as a center for commodities, particularly in agriculture and fisheries. The province's fisheries sector demonstrates remarkable potential, showcased by the export of 2.04 tons of premium fish products—grouper, mackerel, tuna, and tilapia shells—on October 28, 2024, to Singapore, Japan, and Thailand. Rudy also underlined opportunities in agricultural exports, including corn, rice, coconut, candlenut, and cocoa, alongside downstream processing industries, such as coconut oil and corn derivatives, which could boost the local economy and create jobs.
Gorontalo's growing tourism sector also supports its economic ambitions, with visitor numbers doubling between 2022 and 2023. Attractions such as Botubarani Whale Sharks, Otanaha Fort overlooking Lake Limboto, and the Bajo-inhabited Torosiaje Village continue to draw interest. Infrastructure development, port expansion, and skilled human resources were key aspects presented to the ambassadors as part of Gorontalo’s investment appeal. Rudy affirmed the province's strategic location and abundant natural resources as major advantages for investments across tourism, industrial processing, agriculture, and fisheries. “With ongoing infrastructure and port development, coupled with human resource readiness, Gorontalo is prepared to be Eastern Indonesia's new economic center,” Rudy concluded.
