Acting Governor Paulus Waterpauw: Economic Recovery Of West Papua Needs Private Role

Acting Governor of West Papua Paulus Waterpauw (ANTARA/HO-Tri Adi Santoso)

MANOKWARI - Acting Governor of West Papua Paulus Waterpauw said that efforts to recover the economy in the area after the COVID-19 pandemic required the support and participation of the private sector.

Paulus Waterpauw said that the first task he would carry out after being sworn in as the Acting Governor of West Papua was to accelerate the realization of the 2022 Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD).

"It is not enough just to rely on the government budget through the APBD, for funding needs involvement from the private sector is needed. We hope that the private sector will participate in this partnership to accelerate infrastructure development to support economic growth in West Papua," said Waterpauw, quoted by Antara, Friday, May 20. .

The former Papua and West Papua Regional Police Chief promised to make it easier for private investment to enter West Papua.

The condition is that the investment built is sustainable and friendly to the environment.

In accordance with President Joko Widodo's mandate, he said, currently the government is prioritizing health recovery and national economic recovery by encouraging the participation of potential sectors in the regions and accelerating it with the use of digital technology.

"With the development of the COVID-19 case which is starting to slant at this time, it is hoped that West Papua's economic growth will continue to improve and recover as before the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

Until now, West Papua still relies on the agricultural, fisheries and marine sectors to increase the people's per capita income and to increase local revenue.

Other sectors that contribute to regional income in West Papua are natural gas mining in Teluk Bintuni Regency, tourism in Raja Ampat Regency, livestock, trade, service businesses and MSMEs.