In an impressive economic feat, North Maluku recorded the highest economic growth in Indonesia during Q1 2025, with a remarkable year-on-year surge of 34.6%. Governor Sherly Tjoanda credited this success largely to the booming nickel industry, which contributed over 75% to the region’s economic performance. The rapid development of nickel smelting facilities, seaports, and clean energy infrastructure has turned North Maluku into a national growth leader, achieving growth over seven times the national average. At the Indonesia Critical Minerals Convex, Sherly emphasized how sustainable investment in value-added processing has elevated the province's economic status dramatically.
Sherly noted that this growth is not just a result of raw extraction but also due to a structural shift in the region’s GDP composition, moving from raw materials to higher-value processed output. The transformation is driven by downstream industrial expansion, especially in nickel processing. Highlighting the global competitiveness of North Maluku’s nickel, she pointed out its high-quality saprolite and limonite ores, produced with low carbon emissions. With 43% of the world’s nickel reserves located in Indonesia, North Maluku is positioning itself at the forefront of responsible and high-value mineral production. Governor Sherly concluded confidently that the province's nickel is among the best globally—both in quality and environmental standards—underpinning its extraordinary economic rise.
