PAPUA Incentives are in place to bring new capital and business to the islands and assist community development
| Human resources: local governments want to improve access to education and training |
apua is a place brimming with unexploited resources. One of the largest islands at the far western end of the Melanesian archipelago, stretching from Southeast Asia into the Pacific Ocean, it is a region of immense variety and beauty rich in agricultural and marine resources.
There are few places where this can be seen more clearly than in the islands of the great Cendrawasih Bay on the north-west coast. The kabupaten of Yapen Waropen centres on an island in the middle of the bay. It is known for its diving and surfing sites as well as lagoons and jungles.
“The symbol of Yapen Waropen is the colourful bird of paradise,” says Bupati Phillips Wona. He has developed a three-part strategy to bring in new resources to develop the cocoa plantations and the red Merah fruit, which is cultivated for its medicinal properties.
The
first stage was to provide the cocoa farmers with information and training.
The second stage was the mechanisation of cocoa production and the third
part of his strategy was replanting and opening up news lands.
“We are seeking investors to put in capital and build businesses
that will improve the welfare of people here. I also hope investors
will enter the oil and gas sector,” he says.
From coral reefs to rainforests, eco-tourism has great potential
Next
to Yapen Waropen in the turquoise seas of the western Pacific are the
coral islands of Biak Numfor. This equatorial archipelago has remarkable
potential for eco-tourism. Away from the sea in the centre of the islands
there
are waterfalls in a virgin rainforest.
“We
have great tourism potential here,” says O.A. Sroyer, Bupati of
Biak Numfor. “Attractions include diving among the coral reefs
and the many shipwrecks dating from the time we were invaded by the
Dutch and the Japanese.”
On the other side of Papua lies Merauke. It is not only the biggest
kabupaten in Papua but in the whole of Indonesia. It is an area rich
in agricultural resources.
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“Our
challenge lies in developing human resources. We have to improve our
people’s skills because the success of autonomous Papua requires
thinkers, planners and implementers,” says Bupati Johannes Gluba
Gebze.
“I am working to develop our human resources and to train teachers,”
he says. “We send our young people out of the kabupaten to learn
about education, technology, tourism and health at the country’s
leading universities.”
The next step, he argues, is to encourage more investors to put money
into the kabupaten. “We want investors in London to come to Merauke
and discover what’s on offer for themselves. They will receive
a great welcome,” says Mr Gebze. “We would also like support
and assistance to improve our education system and to tackle poverty,”
he explains. “We have a motto in Merauke: ‘One heart, one
aim’.”
A similarly warm reception awaits investors and visitors in Nabire. “All British people are welcome in Nabire. We will guarantee their security. Along with my people, I extend a welcome to them,” says Anselmus Petrus, Bupati of Nabire, which is located in the centre of the Cendrawasih Bay.
“We are happy to receive any investors who wish to come here. We have gold mines, black and white marble and marine tourism,” explains Mr Petrus.
Islanders are gaining the skills to lead their communities
“There are three key issues for development in Papua. The first is human resources, the second is infrastructure and the third is the empowerment of local economic growth,” says John Piet Wanane, Bupati of Sorong, located on the westernmost tip of Papua.
Bupati Wanane sent his staff to Britain to gather expertise from the Royal Show. “We need assistance from technocrats to help us develop an agriculture-based industry,” he explains.
The
government of Sorong has outlined its agricultural and horticultural
development programme until 2007. It proposes improving the technical
skills of farmers by establishing a training centre. It will introduce
superior quality seeds and expand the production of rice, flowers and
sago. The government also plans to bring in better equipment, develop
the irrigation system and establish agricultural research facilities
including a centre for seed research.
One of the most exciting economic developments in Sorong is the integrated
economic-industrial zone in the sub-
district of Arar. Several businesses are already operating within the
zone. These include a plywood manufacturer, oil refinery, a liquid pressurised
gas plant and a fishery. The government of the kabupaten has given its
full support to the zone. This
endorsement from the national government is currently awaiting presidential
decree.
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“As
bupati I can grant investors a tax holiday depending on the value of
the investment. I can also help them to obtain the necessary permits.
And advice is available to ensure investors avoid unofficial fees,”
says Mr Wanane.
Located on the south-west coast of the island is Fakfak.
“People tend to get excited when they hear about our region’s
potential,” says Bupati Wahidin Puarada.
“We have forestry, abundant marine resources, gas, cement and mining
of gold and copper,” he says.
“We
don’t want people to come here with high expectations and then
face obstacles, so we are making the necessary preparations and will
be ready to welcome them in 2004-2005,” explains Mr Puarada.
“With the development of our natural resource potential in mind,
we are opening a vocational school. In the future the region will be
managed by local people. This is the essence of freedom, sovereignty
and autonomy.”
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