On 1 – 3 March 2026, H.E. Mr. Prapan Disyatat led a delegation from the Royal Thai Embassy to visit Makassar, South Sulawesi Province, to explore economic and investment opportunities.
During the visit, Ambassador Prapan paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Andi Sudirman Sulaiman, Governor of South Sulawesi Province, to exchange views on strengthening cooperation between Thailand and the province. The Governor also briefed the Ambassador on the province’s economic development priorities, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development and tourism promotion. The Ambassador also held discussions with Mr. Alif Abadi, President Director of PT. Kawasan Industri Makassar (KIMA), the developer and operator of the Makassar Industrial Estate (KIMA) which serves as a key production base for domestic and international companies, including Charoen Pokphand Indonesia. He received an overview of the industrial estate’s facilities and strategic location which offer concrete opportunities for Thai companies seeking to expand their production base. The Ambassador also toured two animal feed factories in Makassar and Maros owned by Charoen Pokphand Indonesia, one of the leading Thai conglomerates specialised in poultry livestock and animal feed production. He commended the company’s role in contributing to the country’s food security, job creation, and educational development.
In the education sector, the Ambassador met with Prof. Dr. Ir. Jamaluddin Jompa, Rector of Hasanuddin University, to exchange views on strengthening academic cooperation, including potential collaboration in double degree programs and student exchanges. He also visited two closed-house poultry farms established under the collaboration between Charoen Pokphand Indonesia and the university which has been ongoing since 2018.
South Sulawesi is a province with strong economic potential. The province has a population of approximately 9.5 million people. In 2025, South Sulawesi recorded economic growth of 5.45 percent (y-o-y), contributing 3.19 percent to the country’s total and ranking ninth among provinces nationwide. The province is a major producer of key agricultural commodities, including rice, seaweed, coffee, and cocoa. It also home to nickel reserves in Sorowako. Makassar, the provincial capital, serves as the main transportation and logistics hub of Eastern Indonesia. It is home to the province’s key maritime gateways – the Port of Makassar and Makassar New Port, as well as the Sultan Hasanuddin international airport.