On a bright Wednesday morning, April 23, 2025, a historic moment unfolded for two major provinces in Eastern Indonesia—Maluku and East Java. At the Natsepa Resort and Conference Center in Central Maluku, the “Trade and Investment Mission” event was officially opened by Maluku Governor Hendrik Lewerissa and East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa. More than just a ceremonial event, it was a tangible effort to forge strong and sustainable interregional economic ties. The outcome was impressive: total recorded transactions reached IDR 459.5 billion, signaling that this collaboration was more than symbolic—it had real, immediate impact on local economies.
East Java took on the role of main buyer, accounting for IDR 309.26 billion in purchases, while selling IDR 150.24 billion worth of goods. The province offered a wide array of products including tobacco, poultry feed, agricultural seeds, rice, eggs, snacks, fashion items, and poultry—highlighting its strength in agriculture and small-scale industries. Meanwhile, Maluku presented its prized natural resources such as shrimp, tuna, squid, timber, coconuts, and coconut shell charcoal, all renowned for their premium quality. Both governors emphasized that this initiative was a first step toward long-term economic synergy, aiming not just for immediate gains but also for reducing development disparities across regions. This mission exemplifies how interprovincial collaboration can build grassroots economic resilience and foster a more prosperous, united Indonesia.
