JAYAPURA — The Papua Provincial Government is strengthening efforts to protect local products through the 2026 Papua Sago Festival, held in the courtyard of the Papua Governor's Office. The event is part of efforts to develop an economy based on regional potential.

Papua Deputy Governor Aryoko A.F. Rumaropen said intellectual property protection is an important aspect of ensuring the sustainability of Papua's local products.

"Intellectual property is not only a legal matter, but also part of the region's economic strength," he said in Jayapura.

According to him, protection through geographical indications, copyrights, and trademarks is needed so that authentic Papuan products have legal certainty as well as added value in the market.

"Through this protection, local products can be safeguarded while also increasing economic value for the community," he said.

He explained that sago holds a strategic position in the lives of Papuan people, both as a food source and as part of their cultural identity.

"Sago is part of local wisdom that must be preserved and developed sustainably," he said.

In addition, the government also emphasized the importance of protecting the traditional knowledge of Indigenous communities through communal intellectual property schemes.

"Traditional knowledge must be protected so that its benefits return to the community," he said.

The three-day festival also involves dozens of MSME actors producing sago-based products. The Papua Provincial Government hopes the event can strengthen collaboration among the government, business actors, and academics in building a local economic ecosystem based on sago. ***