28 Friendly Nations Attend IGS Business Forum in Makassar, Munafri Offers Untia Stadium Investment
A total of 41 delegates from 28 friendly nations attended the Indonesia Gastronodiplomacy Series (IGS) Business Forum in Makassar on Wednesday (24/6/2026). The business and investment forum brought together local government, business players, and diplomatic representatives as prospective investors for business matching.
Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin offered investment opportunities in the Seaplane area project and the construction of the Untia Stadium. He outlined the potential of these two strategic projects. “Firstly, we have a Sport Tourism Hub concept. The Untia Stadium project is designed to become a new economic driver in eastern Indonesia,” he said.
Speaking before forum participants, Munafri introduced the Untia Stadium as one of the city government’s priority projects, intended to become a new icon for the city as well as an integrated sports centre in the eastern Indonesia region. According to him, the stadium, to be built in the Untia area of Biringkanaya District, is not only designed as a football match venue but also as a new economic development area based on sport tourism and commercial activities. “We want to provide international-standard sports facilities that can attract various national and international events,” he explained.
He detailed that the Untia Stadium project will stand on approximately 23 hectares of land. Currently, the land reclamation process is underway and the government is continuing to mature the planning to accelerate the realisation of the construction. In addition to the main stadium, the area is projected to be equipped with various supporting sports facilities, commercial spaces, entertainment areas, and other public facilities that can be utilised by the community.
The man familiarly known as Appi assessed that the project has very promising investment prospects. This is because Makassar and its surrounding areas have a very large football fan base with strong support for the pride of South Sulawesi, PSM Makassar. “We believe this project has enormous potential. Sport, especially football, is very popular in Makassar and the surrounding areas. We have PSM Makassar, which is the oldest football club in Indonesia, even older than the PSSI,” he explained.
The Golkar Party politician added that the presence of the Untia Stadium is expected to become a magnet for new economic growth through the sports, tourism, trade, and services sectors. “This area, we project, will be able to create jobs and serve as proof of Makassar’s status as a metropolitan city and the gateway to eastern Indonesia,” he stressed.
Munafri’s offer was also supported by Makassar’s highly important and strategic position as a centre of connectivity, trade, and economic growth in the eastern Indonesia region. “Makassar has a unique position as a strategic hub and gateway to eastern Indonesia. We are a logistics connection centre linking western and eastern Indonesia,” he said.
He explained that there are three main reasons why global investors should look to Makassar. Firstly, its strategic geographical position as a logistics and trade hub. Secondly, a strong economic foundation with a consistently rising growth trend. Thirdly, the city government’s commitment to providing smart city-based governance that supports investment ease.
To support trade and goods distribution activities, Makassar is served by Makassar New Port, the largest port in eastern Indonesia and one of the main nodes of national logistics. Furthermore, Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport acts as a primary connectivity hub linking various major cities in Indonesia as well as several international destinations such as Jeddah, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Appi also highlighted the potential of the Indonesian Archipelagic Sea Lane II (ALKI II) which passes through the eastern Indonesia region. This strategic route is considered to have significant opportunities to increase global trade efficiency while driving investment flows to eastern Indonesia. “ALKI II has enormous potential as an international trade route. Optimising this route is expected to reduce logistics costs, increase trade efficiency, and encourage investment growth,” he explained.
Munafri further revealed that the city of Makassar is currently inhabited by around 1.5 million people who are the main drivers of regional economic activity. In 2026, Makassar’s economic growth was recorded at 6.61 percent with inflation remaining under control in the range of 2.2 to 2.9 percent. This achievement serves as a strong indicator that Makassar is a stable, competitive region ready to become an investment destination for global business players.