North Maluku has emerged as the province with the highest economic growth in Indonesia, driven by the government’s focus on downstreaming natural resources. According to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesia’s economy grew by 5.03% in 2024, with North Maluku and West Papua leading the way. North Maluku recorded a remarkable 13.7% growth, fueled by the processing of copper, gold, and especially nickel—key commodities in the country’s industrial downstreaming strategy. Bank Indonesia reported that in Q4 2024, North Maluku’s growth reached 27.27% year-on-year, a significant jump from 4.42% in the same period the year before. The region’s expansion was driven by both the mining and manufacturing sectors, as well as rising export activities and consumer spending during the holiday season. Looking ahead, Bank Indonesia projects continued strong growth for North Maluku in 2025, supported by increased household consumption and expanded exports of refined nickel products. Similarly, West Papua also experienced robust growth at 14.85% year-on-year in Q4 2024, following an even higher 19.56% in the previous quarter. This growth was largely fueled by household and nonprofit sector consumption, as well as international exports. However, economic growth in West Papua and neighboring Southwest Papua is expected to moderate slightly in 2025 due to the normalization of LNG production at Tangguh Train III, which had ramped up operations in 2024. Overall, Indonesia’s eastern provinces are showing strong economic momentum, anchored in strategic resource-based industrial development. Source: https://haliyora.id/2025/04/08/pertumbuhan-ekonomi-malut-tertinggi-di-indonesia-menko-airlangga-berkat-hilirisasi/