Daftarsbmptn.com – Papua is increasingly shifting its economic development direction from dependence on mining to a strategy based on MSMEs, tourism, and the sustainable optimization of natural resources. This aligns with the efforts of the regional and central governments to create an inclusive economy, expand employment opportunities, and improve the welfare of the Papuan people.
MSME Development is Key to Economic Transformation
The Papua Provincial Government and various regencies are actively promoting the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as drivers of the local economy. In Kaimana Regency, West Papua Province, 59 MSMEs received business capital assistance of IDR 7.5 million per entrepreneur, as part of the Productive Papua Program, designed to strengthen production capacity and expand market opportunities for small businesses. This assistance is expected to create larger business scale and increase the competitiveness of local products at the regional and national levels.
According to Bank Indonesia data, Papuan MSMEs recorded a significant increase in sales at the 2024 Indonesian Creative Works (KKI) event, with total sales reaching IDR 973 million, a 163 percent increase from the previous year. Products like Highland Roastery coffee have even secured export deals to Japan, signaling that local Papuan products are gaining recognition in the international market.
This initiative not only provides direct economic opportunities for MSMEs but also opens up access for Papuan products to modern markets and exports. Going forward, strengthening local MSMEs is expected to become a key pillar of inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Papua.
Papua Tourism, From Natural Beauty to Community Economy
The tourism sector has become a focus of local government attention, particularly in areas with extraordinary natural beauty like Raja Ampat and Jayawijaya. In Jayawijaya Regency, the local government is developing the Aitok Tourism Village as a new destination with the potential to attract both domestic and international tourists. This development also aims to increase the role of local communities in the tourism industry, so that the economic benefits directly benefit the local community.
Meanwhile, in the Raja Ampat region, support for sustainable tourism is growing. The Indonesian President’s Special Envoy for Tourism recently visited Friwen Village to review activities that combine environmental conservation with the economic empowerment of coastal communities. These activities include the management of handicrafts and processed mangrove products, as well as the development of local coffee as a unique attraction for tourists.
The region affirms its commitment to prioritizing tourism over mining, ensuring the preservation of its natural beauty and rich marine ecosystem while simultaneously utilizing it to improve community well-being.
Sustainable Utilization of Natural Resources
Papua’s economic development strategy relies heavily on utilizing its vast natural resource potential, including the marine and agricultural sectors. The Papua Provincial Government is increasingly focusing on green and blue economic development, emphasizing sustainable marine, agricultural, and natural resource sectors. According to local government officials, this strategy aims to reduce dependence on the mining sector and open up new opportunities for employment and increased income for local communities.
Regional expansion through the formation of New Autonomous Regions (DOB) has prompted local governments to increasingly seek alternative sources of income beyond primary sources such as mining. The marine and agricultural sectors have become a primary focus due to the vast areas suitable for community-based productive activities.
Towards a Progressive, Inclusive, and Sustainable Papua
Economic transformation in Papua is now proceeding in tandem with the harmonization of government policies, business actors, and local communities. Visionary regional leadership encourages collaboration between the public, private, and community sectors so that development is not solely reliant on a single sector, but rather based on diverse local potential from creative MSMEs to nature tourism.
With these proactive steps, Papua hopes to become an example of regional development based on inclusivity, sustainability, and community empowerment, and to significantly increase economic growth for all citizens.