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Nethy Dharma Somba
Papuan businesspeople are calling for more involvement in projects in the province, saying they wanted to be active participants instead of outsiders.
Radya Wanggai from the Papua branch of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) said that whenever a project was underway in Papua, local businesspeople were rarely involved.
He urged investors to work with local businesspeople, many of who were
not involved in large projects due to limited resources.
"We have big dreams that someday Papuan businesspeople will own their
own businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, air transport and others.
We need a breakthrough to take the leap," Radya said.
He said that currently, many Papuans only worked on projects financed by
the province.
Larger projects funded by the state, however, were being undertaken by
businesspeople from outside Papua, he added.
The call was made during a meeting between Suryo Bambang Sulisto, who is
running for Kadin's top post, and the chamber's members in Papua at a
hotel in Jayapura on Thursday night.
Kadin is scheduled to hold a vote to chose a new leader to replace MS
Hidayat as chairman no later than Aug. 24. Hidayat stepped down as he
currently holds the post of industry minister.
At the meeting, Suryo promised that if elected, he would empower Papuan
businesspeople and involve them in large projects in the province.
"Papua has a wealth of natural resources. Many foreign investors are
interested in investing here, but I believe the local business people
should play a larger role," he said.
Suryo is the president commissioner of coal mining firm PT Bumi
Resources, the crown jewel of the Bakrie and Brothers group, a holding
company led by the family of Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie.
Suryo also promised to improve the Papuan business scene by lobbying the
central government to improve infrastructure to support business
activities in the province.
The chairman of the Papua branch of Kadin, John Kabey, expressed support
for Suryo's candidacy, raising hopes that he would help Papua
businesspeople by making breakthroughs.
Apart from Suryo, other candidates running for Kadin's top post include
Sandiaga Uno, the managing director of private equity firm Saratoga
Capital and former leader of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs
Association (Hipmi).
Other candidate is Golkar stalwart Syarif C. Sutardjo, a Kadin veteran
and the owner of Ario Bimo group, a holding company with interests in
property, palm oil and mining.
Also running is Chris Kanter, the president director of shipping and
forwarding company PT KN Sigma Trans. He is currently Kadin's deputy
chairman for investment and communications.
Source : , The Jakarta Post |
Jayapura, Papua province, Representatives of 157 countries which have lakes will visit Paniai Lake in Papua Province which they consider to be the world`s most beautiful and preserved lake, a local official
Energetic and enthusiastic are two words that come to mind when describing Papuan community (Papua and West Papua) to commemorate the West Papua integration day on May 1, 2008. Since last two week the Papuan activities have been seen such as race walking followed by thousands of participants.
(The Unitary State of Indonesia’s Political Struggle in West Papua), written by young author Papuan Sendius Wonda SH, MSi, and published by Deiyai, a Jayapura-based publishing house in 2007 (first edition) which consists of 245 pages totally in 2007.
History of Jayapura In the book of Nagara-Kertagama writen by Rakawi Prapanca of Majapahit, under the rule of King Hayam Wuruk, in 1365 A.D, it was mentioned that West Papua was belong to Majapahit Kingdom territory. In one of its paragraphs mentioned “Muwah tikhan i wandan, ambwan (Ambon) athawa maloko wwanin (Fakfak)” were the sovereign territory of Majapahit Kingdom.
