*) By: Drio Filindo
Papua is a region rich in natural beauty and cultural diversity, holding great potential that has not yet been fully explored. In an effort to accelerate development and improve community welfare, the Indonesian government is now focusing on encouraging potential development in all Papuan villages. This step is expected to bring significant changes to the lives of local communities.
If you look more closely, Papua is known for its abundant natural wealth, such as the gold mines in Grasberg, dense forests, and extraordinary biodiversity. Apart from that, the unique culture and traditions of the Papuan people are a special attraction. This potential is not only important for the national economy, but also provides great opportunities for the Papuan people to improve their standard of living
Therefore, the Government sees that developing the potential of villages in Papua can be the key to paving the way to more equitable prosperity. By optimizing existing natural and cultural resources, society can enjoy more inclusive and sustainable development results
Acting Regional Secretary for Papua, Derek Hegemur, said the government continues to pursue infrastructure development, starting from sea ports, Trans-Papua roads, to airspace. This is to maximize Papua’s natural products to support exports abroad. With the instruments that have been prepared, Papua’s hopes of increasing direct exports abroad are increasingly wide open. Considering the potential and open international market for Papuan products. To make this step more effective, the government is maximizing the potential of villages in Papua to produce MSMEs and natural products. So that later local economic empowerment in Papuan villages can be realized optimally.
The village development strategy in Papua involves various relevant ministries and institutions, in collaboration with the regional government and local communities. The main focus of this program is on the agriculture, fisheries and tourism sectors, which are considered to have great potential for development.
From the agriculture and fisheries sector, Papua has fertile agricultural land and abundant fisheries resources. The government encourages people to develop sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly capture fisheries. Through extension and training, farmers and fishermen are taught modern techniques that can increase their production results.
Apart from that, the government also provides assistance in the form of superior seeds, agricultural tools and access to markets. In this way, it is hoped that people’s income will increase and food security in the region will become stronger.
Apart from that, from the tourism sector, Papua’s natural beauty, such as Raja Ampat, Lake Sentani and the Jayawijaya Mountains, has an extraordinary attraction for domestic and foreign tourists. The government is trying to develop the tourism sector by building adequate infrastructure, such as roads, airports and other tourist facilities.
The approach taken is community-based tourism, where local communities are directly involved in managing tourist destinations. This not only provides economic benefits, but also preserves the environment and local culture. Communities are empowered through training in the fields of hospitality, tour guides and digital marketing, so that they are ready to welcome tourists with high professionalism.
Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf), Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, said that the concrete steps taken by the government to improve Papua’s prosperity were through empowering the local economy. The Ministry of Tourism continues to provide assistance, counseling and management strategies for MSMEs in Papuan villages, such as improving product quality and packaging. Therefore, creativity and innovation continue to be encouraged by the people of Papua, especially young people, to maximize the potential of natural wealth in their region.
To increase the potential of MSMEs in Papua, the government is implementing several comprehensive and integrated strategies. One way is by providing training and mentoring. The government, through various ministries and agencies, provides training in areas such as business management, digital marketing and financial management. Mentoring is carried out on an ongoing basis to ensure that MSME players are able to apply the knowledge they have gained in daily practice. Meanwhile, to overcome obstacles in marketing products from the community, the government facilitates MSMEs in participating in exhibitions and bazaars at national and international levels. The use of digital technology is also optimized by teaching MSME players how to utilize e-commerce platforms and social media to market their products. The “Proudly Made in Indonesia” program also helps introduce local products to a wider market.
In implementing these programs, the government needs to collaborate with the private sector and NGOs. Large companies operating in Papua are encouraged to contribute through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. Meanwhile, NGOs play a role in providing assistance and advocacy for the community, so that they can actively participate in development.
With these comprehensive steps, it is hoped that the potential development of villages in Papua can run well and have a positive impact on the community. The success of this program will not only improve the welfare of the Papuan people, but also strengthen the unity and unity of the Indonesian nation.
A developed and prosperous Papua is a shared dream that must be realized with hard work and collaboration from all parties. The government is committed to continuing to support and encourage development in Papua, so that local communities can enjoy the results of fair and equitable development. With its potential, Papua can definitely become an example of successful community-based development that inspires other regions in Indonesia.
*) The author is a student living in Surabaya
