Global Investors Eye North Morowali, Delis Highlights Vast Nickel Downstreaming Potential
Regent Delis Julkarson Hehi outlined the strategic investment potential of North Morowali Regency before global investors and alumni of the Executive MBA from Xiamen University at a business forum organised by the Chindo Business Center at Park Hyatt Jakarta on Saturday (9/5/2026).
In his presentation, Delis emphasised that North Morowali is now developing into one of Indonesia’s new economic growth centres, supported by the acceleration of mineral industry downstreaming and the strengthening of the region’s flagship sectors.
According to local government data, North Morowali’s economic growth in 2025 reached 23.94 per cent. This figure is underpinned by the ongoing development of nickel downstreaming activities, with nickel reserves in the area estimated at 487 million tonnes.
“North Morowali is no longer just a region with great potential, but has become a new economic growth centre in Indonesia with a maturing, integrated, and sustainable industrial ecosystem,” Delis stated at the forum.
In addition to the mining and nickel downstreaming sectors, Delis also offered investment opportunities in palm oil plantations spanning approximately 55,000 hectares and the fisheries sector, which is considered to have significant development prospects.
According to him, the presence of National Strategic Projects (PSN) in North Morowali provides certainty for investors, particularly in terms of infrastructure, logistics efficiency, and streamlined permitting processes.
“The North Morowali Regency Government is opening the widest possible space for collaboration with global investors to build future industries, including the development of electric vehicle battery ecosystems that can create inclusive economic growth and improve community welfare,” he said.
The business forum served as a platform for investment promotion while strengthening cooperative networks between local government and international business players in driving sustainable industrial development in Indonesia, particularly in eastern Indonesia.