Eight Countries Claimed to be Interested in Investing in Makassar for Marine Tourism Development
The Makassar City Government is targeting business agreements with 28 countries at the Indonesia Gastrodiplomacy Series (IGS) Makassar 2026, held on Wednesday (24/6/2026). Of these, eight countries have reportedly expressed readiness to realise investments, particularly in the marine tourism sector, capitalising on the region’s archipelagic potential.
Mayor Munafri Arifuddin stated that the city is relying on the added value of its island investment potential to showcase to investors attending the forum, which was initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The cluster of islands, marine areas, and natural beauty located close to the city centre are considered the main attractions for foreign investors to develop marine tourism.
"As an initial step, this international cooperation pattern will be initiated through a sister city scheme. The negotiation process with the eight interested countries will be followed up intensively," Munafri told reporters on Wednesday (24/6/2026). He stressed that this series of diplomatic agendas must not merely become a regional potential exhibition or cultural ceremony. The city administration has set a high target for all economic opportunity explorations to result in tangible business agreements.
To open wider international market access, the Makassar city government is also preparing several strategic regional assets. Some of these involve PT Bomar and the Makassar Industrial Estate (KIMA) to boost the penetration of superior commodities into the global market. "So besides tourism, we will also offer the manufacturing and processing industry sector, sport tourism, and city infrastructure projects that require support from partner countries," Munafri added.
The city government’s commitment has received full support from the central government. The Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heru Hartanto Subolo, stated that his party is ready to oversee the results of this business forum through official diplomatic channels. He will ensure that investment commitments made in Makassar can be realised through intensive communication with foreign representatives in Jakarta and by mobilising 131 Indonesian representatives abroad.
According to Heru, gastrodiplomacy is a powerful instrument in Indonesia’s soft power diplomacy tactics to bridge the promotion of tourism, trade, and investment. However, the main measure of success for modern diplomacy is the real economic impact felt directly by the community. "The success of Makassar is the success of South Sulawesi and Indonesia. Diplomacy does not stop at negotiations; the most important thing is how it impacts the community. That is what we will do," Heru concluded.