Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra) Province is strengthening its non-mining export sector, specifically commodities such as agriculture, fisheries, and plantations, by prioritizing direct shipments from Kendari. The Deputy Governor of Southeast Sulawesi, Hugua, highlighted that many leading products are shipped through ports outside the region, thus their export value is not reflected in Southeast Sulawesi's contribution. Although the mining sector still dominates, accounting for 94 percent of exports, non-mining commodities contribute up to 23% of the local GRDP, demonstrating significant untapped potential.

To address this challenge, Kendari Customs and Excise, along with relevant agencies, have been promoting the downstreaming and digitization of the export process. As of May 2025, official exports from Kendari were valued at IDR 4.91 trillion, supported by a paperless scheme that facilitates MSMEs and micro-enterprises in accessing global markets. The regional government is now focusing on strengthening the export ecosystem so that Southeast Sulawesi truly benefits economically directly, rather than through other provinces.

Source: https://rri.co.id/daerah/1777546/sultra-memacu-komoditas-unggulan-untuk-ekspor