With IWIP and Harita Present, This is Governor Sherly's Vision for North Maluku
The North Maluku Provincial Government is targeting the equitable distribution of economic benefits from nickel downstreaming to improve the welfare of local communities. With the presence of several nickel mining companies in North Maluku, such as Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) and PT Harita Nickel on Obi Island, it is expected that the local economy will also see an increase.
This was stated by the Governor of North Maluku, Sherly Tjoaks. She mentioned that this is her vision for North Maluku leading up to 2030. She also hopes for stronger cooperation between the industries operating in North Maluku and local business actors.
“My vision for 2030 as the Governor of North Maluku remains the same: the people, the prosperity of the people of North Maluku. In 2030, if IWIP is still there, if Harita is still there, they may have better and more advanced technology, and there may be more factories, but the primary goal is the people of North Maluku,” she explained during a KADIN UK & Ireland discussion at the Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference & Expo 2026 in Jakarta, Wednesday (3/6/2026).
Sherly emphasised that the indicators of development success are not only seen through the sophistication of industrial technology but also the availability of basic infrastructure. According to her, the connectivity of roads and bridges, as well as access to quality healthcare and education services, are essential requirements for the progress of mineral-producing regions.
“Are the roads and bridges connected? Do they have better healthcare and better education? Are the people of North Maluku, the local residents, in technical or supervisory positions? Is the economy involving local residents and SMEs that support the food supply chain?” she added.
In addition to infrastructure, the quality of local human resources (SDM) is a serious concern for the provincial government to ensure that local residents do not merely serve as unskilled labourers. The Governor is encouraging local communities to be able to occupy strategic positions within the organisational structures of the mining and smelter companies operating in North Maluku.
“We hope more local residents will move from basic labour to skilled positions, from staff to technicians, supervisors, engineers, and managers,” Sherly explained.
On the other hand, the involvement of SMEs in the industrial supply chain must also be continuously driven, ranging from the catering and logistics sectors to maintenance services. Sherly believes that strengthening this community-based economy will have a real impact on reducing poverty and unemployment in her region.
“Do the farmers and fishermen in North Maluku have more income? Do they have better housing? I hope the economy will continue to grow by double digits, but most importantly, we must ensure that the wealth taken from the land of North Maluku can bring prosperity to the local residents,” she concluded.