JAYAPURA - The Papua Provincial Government is strongly committed to maintaining food price stability, to control inflation in Papua, which this time is recorded in the top five national lows.

 This was conveyed by the Acting Assistant for Economic Affairs and People Welfare of the Regional Secretary of Papua, Suzana Wanggai in Jayapura, Monday (6/3/2023), after a meeting with the Papua Regional Inflation Control Team (TPID).

"Our inflation in February 2023 is recorded at 5.05 percent or the national average. We should be proud, but all relevant parties in the province will be committed to continuing to strive to maintain and control this inflation," she explained.

According to Suzana, the success of Papua Province in controlling inflation is currently due to the form of communication and coordination built by TPID, which is very good and coordinated. As a result, there are interventions on the ground that ultimately bring food prices under control.

"It should also be at the price of air transportation, yes, because it is packaged and following the emphasis of the President. But for air transportation, it is the authority of the central TPID. But we in the regions certainly encourage and focus on food, so that also ahead of the month of Ramadhan all food prices are under control," she said.

Head of the Regional Economic and Financial Policy Formulation Team of BI Papua Province Agni Alam Awirya explained that there are two components contributing to inflation in Papua and need to be maintained.

"First, it is air freight and food commodities. Therefore, we are promoting the National Movement to Control Food Inflation (GNPIP) in the regions. Because air transportation is indeed in the Central TPID," he said.

As known, there are seven excellent programs in GNPIP, including market operations, strategic food security, expansion of cooperation between regions, and support for distribution.

Then optimize the usage of agricultural production facilities, infrastructure, and effective communication with stakeholders and the community. ***