KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia has pledged to revive its historic spice legacy by designating North Maluku as a global spice hub, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, during a coordination meeting in Ternate, outlining plans to achieve it through plantation downstreaming and industrialization.

Speaking at the Provincial Plantation Downstreaming Coordination Meeting in Ternate on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, coinciding with Indonesia’s Youth Pledge Day, Minister Amran said North Maluku holds extraordinary potential to become the epicenter of spice and plantation commodity development, including nutmeg, cloves, and coconut.

“North Maluku has immense potential as the epicenter of plantation commodities such as nutmeg, cloves, and coconut commodities that made eastern Indonesia the heart of global trade centuries ago. Through downstreaming and industrialization, the Agriculture Ministry is determined to restore that glory within a modern economic framework," Minister Amran, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, as quoted by antaranews.com.

He emphasized that Indonesia once attracted European powers like Portugal and the Netherlands for its spices, but now aims to reclaim that legacy through innovation and value-added processing.

“Maluku and North Maluku must once again become the world’s spice center,” he said, addressing North Maluku Governor Sherly Tjoanda, regional leaders, and local officials.

Aligned with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive, the government has prepared an investment scheme worth IDR 371 trillion (USD 23 billion) to strengthen downstreaming in the agricultural sector, particularly strategic plantation commodities across Indonesia.

“If governors and district heads are serious, we will allocate major support. But if only the central government works hard while the regions remain passive, there will be no progress,” he added.

As part of this commitment, the ministry has expanded coconut plantation support in North Maluku from 10,000 to 15,000 hectares. The initiative is part of a broader program covering 14 strategic plantation commodities, projected to create 8.6 million jobs nationwide.

“We are providing seeds, tools, and training from upstream to downstream. The goal is for people to prosper from their own land,” he explained.

The minister underscored the importance of downstreaming spice and coconut commodities, noting that Indonesia’s current coconut export value of IDR 24 trillion could soar to IDR 2,400 trillion (USD 150 billion) if processed into derivative products such as coconut milk and oil.

“Even coconut water alone can generate trillions in value. The world is shifting, milk is being replaced by coconut milk. Europe and China can’t grow coconut, only Indonesia and the Philippines can. We must lead the global market,” he continued.

He also urged the rapid development of nutmeg and clove processing plants, stressing that exporting raw materials only benefits other nations.

“Don’t export raw goods, export processed products. A single nutmeg factory can increase economic value a hundredfold,” he emphasized.

North Maluku Governor Sherly Tjoanda expressed her appreciation for the minister’s visit and commitment to developing the province’s plantation downstreaming sector.

“We, the provincial administration and people of North Maluku, fully support the Agriculture Ministry’s vision to make North Maluku the world’s spice hub and the center of Indonesia’s coconut industry,” Sherly said.

She added that the province plans to optimize idle lands for new factories to increase productivity, quality, and farmers’ prosperity.

“With stronger industrial development, farmers can improve product quality, boost yields, and enhance their livelihoods,” she concluded. ***