McDonald's Opens First Outlet in Baubau, Boosting Local Economy and Employment

The opening of McDonald’s first restaurant in Baubau, Southeast Sulawesi, on Tuesday (5/8/2026) is being hailed as a new economic driver for the region. Located on Jalan Sultan Hasanuddin, the outlet represents the company’s expansion beyond the provincial capital of Kendari and is expected to strengthen the local economy through job creation and increased business activity.

Baubau’s Assistant for Economic Affairs and Development, Dahrul Dahlan, stated that the investment reflects business confidence in the city’s potential and aligns with the local government’s long-term development plan, which prioritises trade, services, and investment as foundations for growth.

The restaurant has directly recruited 20 employees, all from Baubau and surrounding areas, with 71 per cent of them being Generation Z individuals gaining their first work experience. Associate Director of Operations Yunus Sharon emphasised the company’s commitment to growing with the community by providing global-standard training to develop local talent.

According to an Oxford Economics study (April 2024–March 2025), McDonald’s Indonesia’s ecosystem supports approximately 48,700 jobs nationwide, with 86 per cent of its supply chain spending directed to domestic partners. The new Baubau outlet, built on a 2,000-square-metre plot with a 494-square-metre building and a capacity of 145 seats, features a prayer room, children’s play area, and party room. As part of its corporate social responsibility, the company donated prayer mats to Al Fattah Mosque and shared meals with children from a local orphanage.