SEZ Sorong Becomes An Instrument To Accelerate Economic Development Of Papua

Acting (Pj) Governor of Southwest Papua Muhammad Musa'ad said that the Sorong special economic zone (SEZ) was one of the instruments and locomotives for accelerating economic development in Papua.

"Why is that, because SEZ Sorong is the only economic area in Papua, that's the way he views it, so we all have to contribute how to build this Sorong SEZ for the future," he explained in Sorong, quoted from Antara, Saturday, May 18.

The Acting Governor has conveyed this view to all governors of Papua's land in Wamena some time ago, then there will be another meeting in Jayapura on May 24, 2024, while still campaigning for the Sorong SEZ, so that all have the same perspective that the instrument for accelerating economic growth in Papua is the SEZ of Sorong.

"The goal is how the role of every provincial government in the Papua region is to help improve the development of the Sorong SEZ, because when it develops, economic growth will not only have an impact in Southwest Papua but throughout Papua will also have an impact," he said.

Apart from the SEZ, in Papua there is an industrial area in Teluk Bintuni Regency and an industrial area in Fakfak Regency, West Papua Province. Then it is planned to build an industrial area in the agricultural sector in Merauke, South Papua Province.

"This one Papuan land must have the same mind that the four industries are the locomotive instruments to accelerate economic development in Papua," he said.

If everyone has the same thought and then followed by a real contribution, it is not impossible that in a relatively short time there must be a change. "But if we want our own path, we are all indifferent, the area will only have a name," he said.

The Provincial Government of Southwest Papua will continue to strive so that the Sorong SEZ can then develop.

Moreover, in the near future there will be the start of the smelter construction in the area, so he hopes that all policymakers, both provincial and city governments, will continue to synergize and collaborate to make the smelter development plan a success.

"So the construction of the Sorong SEZ is not only the responsibility of the Southwest Papua Province but all existing regencies and cities, let's collaborate together to support the acceleration of the development of the Sorong SEZ," he hoped.

Another concrete effort made by the Provincial Government of Southwest Papua to accelerate the development of the Sorong SEZ is to hold an economic coordination meeting by presenting all regional leaders in six regencies and cities to develop the regional development strategy.

"We hope that this coordination meeting can produce strategic and concrete decisions to support the acceleration of the development of the Sorong SEZ, so that the SEZ which can hope to drive economic growth in Papua can be realized," he said.