Banten Province was a part of West Java Province before 2000, but now it is an independent area, meaning that it is a province according to Undang-Undang (Act) No. 23 in the year of 2000. At the present time, the province covers 8.800,83 km2 including the west side of West Java Province. Administratively, the province consists of 4 regencies (similar to a county): Pandeglang, Lebak, Serang and Tangerang regencies and 2 cities: Tangerang City and Cilegon City. According to the demography of 2004, Banten Province has 9,083,114 people with the population growth rate at 3.18% and the population density of 1,032 persons per km2 from 2000 to 2004. This province is strategically situated because this is the bridge of Sumatera-Jawa trading.
Up to 2005, the Gross Regional Domestic Products (PDRB) of the province reached Rp. 58.2 trillion. The sectors which contributed the biggest amount to this province was industrial manufacturing amounting Rp. 28.98 trillion (49.9)% out of PDRBR of the province. This was followed by trade, hotels and restaurants of Rp.10.7 trillion (18.4%) and agricultural sectors (Rp.5.1 trillion, or 8.7%) out of PDRB.In 2005, there were some leading commodities in the province from Pandeglang, Lebak and Serang regencies.
Rice was the number one commodity, other commodities are cassava, corn, ground nuts, soybean and green nut. While for plantation crop sub-sectors, the province could produce among others are coconut, oil palm and rubber. From the forestry, bastard cedar trees and forest timber. Marine fishery and aquaculture. Other leading sectors were manufacturing industry spreading in Tangerang regency as a supporting city for DKI Jakarta Province.In the same year, the export valued at US$ 709.8 billion.
The main products from the province are organic chemical material products valued at US$ 379.3 billion and iron and steel products was at US$133.9 billion.Banten owns 13 industrial estates spreading in 3 regencies: 6 industrial estates in Serang, six industrial estates in Tangerang and the other estate in Cilegon. To support its economic activities, the province has 8 seaports: M Binuang, Anyer Lor, Cigading, Bojonegara, Labuhan (400 m), Ciwandan (669 m), Karangantu (1,800 m), and Merak crossing seaport as the gate between Java Island and Sumatera Island. For air transportation, the province owns the biggest airport, Soekarno Hatta, located at Tangerang Regency with its ground of 3,600 km.
