BPS Chief Launches Economic Census in North Maluku to Record Progressive Transformation

North Maluku has a long history as the world’s spice centre. The province’s economic landscape is now changing and is better known as one of the national nickel downstreaming industry hubs, which has propelled North Maluku’s economy to double-digit growth. This progressive economic transformation will be comprehensively recorded through the 2026 Economic Census (SE2026) from 15 June to 31 August 2026. This was conveyed by the Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of the Republic of Indonesia, Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, during the SE2026 Launch in North Maluku Province, held in Ternate on Thursday (18/6).

“North Maluku is a province with progressive economic activity that is developing rapidly. Therefore, economically, North Maluku is quite important for Indonesia, which is why I attended today’s launch in person,” Amalia stated.

Amalia explained that over the past decade, North Maluku’s economic structure has undergone significant changes. The contribution of the industrial sector has increased sharply, while the contribution of the agricultural sector has declined. According to her, this transformation needs to be recorded accurately so that the government can formulate appropriate policies.

“North Maluku can utilise the Economic Census to present and seek new, sustainable sources of economic growth in the future,” she said.

According to Amalia, North Maluku has various economic potentials to be further developed. The province possesses natural wealth and an archipelagic landscape that is highly potential to be developed into a premier tourist destination, both for domestic and international visitors. Additionally, there is potential for the downstreaming of plantation and spice commodities such as nutmeg and clove.

Governor of North Maluku, Sherly Tjoanda, stated that the province’s high economic growth, even the highest in Indonesia both in 2025 (year-on-year) and in the first quarter of 2026 (year-on-year), must be monitored as it is heavily dependent on mining products and their processing.

“We know that eventually this extraction industry will be depleted. Therefore, in making decisions, we need accurate data, such as knowing which industries are currently happening or booming, which regency has the highest economic growth, and what obstacles business actors in North Maluku are facing. Whether it is a lack of capital or a lack of market connectivity, detailed problem identification will help the government make targeted and solution-oriented decisions,” Sherly elaborated.

She invited all business actors and associations to help socialise SE2026 to the community, to accept census officers and provide correct answers so that a true portrait of the economy can be obtained.

Amalia expressed appreciation for the Governor and all Regents and Mayors throughout North Maluku who have fully supported the implementation of SE2026, both through circular letters of support and various other forms of facilities. This support is in line with the Joint Circular of the Minister of Home Affairs and the Head of BPS RI regarding local government coordination with BPS in the implementation of SE2026, which was signed on 15 June 2026. SE2026 brings great benefits to the government, including local governments, as they obtain complete data without spending from the local budget (APBD).

Amalia invited the public to make SE2026 a success with one simple word, “TIR”: Terima petugas SE2026 (Accept SE2026 officers), Isi data dengan benar (Fill in data correctly), and Rahasia data pasti terjaga (Data confidentiality is guaranteed). According to her, without public support, the required data cannot be obtained.

The launch was also attended by the North Maluku Provincial Forkopimda ranks, Regents and Mayors throughout North Maluku or their representatives, the Head of BPS North Maluku Province, Simon Sapary, Heads of BPS from regencies/cities across North Maluku Province, and representatives of SE2026 officers. Amalia advised the SE2026 officers in North Maluku, all of whom are local sons and daughters who have passed a rigorous selection process, to ensure nothing is missed in the data collection and that data quality must always be maintained.