Makassar is situated between Northern Australia, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and the major towns of Eastern Indonesia. With an economic growth rate of 7.6%, compared to 5% for the rest of Indonesia, Makassar is increasingly sought after as a city for investment, particularly in the rapidly expanding agriculture, manufacturing and retail and hospitality sectors, Grigson said.
Australia is South Sulawesi’s second largest source of imports with goods worth US$135.6 million. Australian firms are already present in the region. Grigson said PT Vale Indonesia’s construction services and One Asia Resources Limited, in Luwu Regency, which is exploring gold deposits, provide employment for local people. Indonesian enterprise Interflour, (Eastern Pearl), the fourth largest flour mill in the world, mills Australian wheat and has the second-largest market share for flour consumption in Indonesia, he said.
"We’re looking forward to becoming part of the community and to help build better connections in business and investment, culture and education between Australia and Eastern Indonesia," he said in a statement.