Regional Development Status of Sulawesi Island for New Policy Direction

The formulation of policy and the planning of strategies for island-based provinces presents a distinctive set of challenges, necessitating the consideration of specific factors. The extant literature on the subject of development in island-based regions is scant. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the current state of regional development on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, and to propose scenarios for future planning. The formulation of strategies is predicated on an analysis of extant conditions. The data were collected through a combination of in-depth interviews, media reports, government statistical publications, direct observation, and focus group discussions. The following conclusions can be deduced from the findings: The analysis reveals several key findings. Firstly, there is considerable inequality in development achievements across provinces. Secondly, the leading economic sectors are agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Thirdly, no province in Sulawesi has fully met its development targets. Finally, there are significant investment disparities between provinces. The paper proposes a series of recommendations for the enhancement of regional development in Sulawesi. These recommendations include the prioritisation of spatial planning and conservation measures, the reinforcement of agriculture's contribution to food security, the regulation of industrial growth with a focus on downstream industries, the development of sustainable tourism destinations, the construction of integrated and connected infrastructure, the support of energy systems, and the promotion of good governance practices.