JAYAPURA — The Government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in collaboration with the Papua Provincial Government, is strengthening support for micro-enterprise actors in Papua. This initiative is being implemented through the Festival on Ease and Protection for Micro Enterprises held in Jayapura, under the theme “Resilient MSMEs, Empowered Papua: Building an Inclusive and Sustainable Ecosystem from Eastern Indonesia.”

Minister of MSMEs Maman Abdurrahman stated that micro-enterprise actors in Papua play a vital role in advancing regional economic independence. He emphasized the government’s commitment to providing affirmative policies that expand access to licensing, legal status, and product certification.

“Through this festival, we synchronize the efforts of the central government, regional governments, and partner institutions so that Papua’s MSME actors gain greater convenience in running their businesses. The government is here to accelerate progress, not create obstacles,” Maman said.

He added that cross-sector synergy has begun to yield concrete results. Over the past year, the issuance of business permits and micro-enterprise certifications has increased by up to 300 percent compared to the previous year.

Papua Deputy Governor Aryoko Rumaropen stated that MSME empowerment aligns with Papua’s development agenda, which prioritizes independence and inclusiveness. He noted that various local flagship products—such as coffee, sago, and virgin coconut oil—have begun entering national markets and even reaching export destinations.

“From Papua, we can demonstrate that micro-enterprise actors are capable of competing at the global level,” Aryoko said. “Strengthening human resource capacity and innovation is essential to ensure that Papua’s MSMEs become increasingly resilient and competitive,” he concluded. ***