Envoys explore business opportunities in Papua

Tony Hotland ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jayapura   |  Thu, 05/22/2008 11:26 AM  |  World

POTENTIAL INVESTORS FOR PAPUA: (From left to right) Libya’s Ambassador to Indonesia Salaheddin M. El Bishari, Iranian Ambassador Behrooz Kamalvandi, Azerbaijan Ambassador Ibrahim A. Hajiyev and Algerian Ambassador Hamza Yahia-Cherif take notes Wednesday during a discussion in Jayapura with Papua development agencies. (JP/Tony Hotland)

Envoys from 11 countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa on Wednesday began meetings with Jayapura government agencies to discuss investment opportunities in this remote resource-rich province of Papua.

Nine Ambassadors, one counselor and one first secretary are amongst those gathered in Indonesia's easternmost province. The government plans to transform it from a least developed area to an investment destination, leading to potential export-import opportunities.

It was the first visit to Papua for all the envoys.

M. Asruchin, Foreign Ministry director for South and Central Asian affairs, said the meeting was to allow foreign envoys a glimpse of the mineral-rich Papua. The province is frequently associated with extreme poverty and political unrest amid the presence of a tiny rebel separatist movement.

"The idea was to promote Papua via these foreign envoys, so that hopefully concrete economic relations will ensue. Apart from that, we thought bringing them to Papua would counter preconceptions they might have from news reports or critical nongovernmental agencies," Asruchin said.

The envoys appeared enthusiastic during the meeting with Papua's provincial secretary and the local branch of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry as they raised questions on infrastructure programs and plans for improved communications.

Papua is approximately seven hours by plane from Jakarta.

"I thought it was very interesting. My major question about Papua before I came here was how the small villages here are linked because it's important for investors to see how the villages grow together rather than separately," said Maj. Gen. (ret.) Ali Baz, Pakistan's ambassador to Indonesia.

He said Pakistan imported a number of wood-based products from Indonesia, which could be from Papua, adding that Pakistan was an important producer of asphalt and cement which were needed in Papua.

The fact that Papua's underdeveloped infrastructure is poor might not necessarily make the region less attractive for investors, said the Indian Embassy's economic and commercial counselor Manika Jain

"Papua is rich in natural resources. That's enough reason for investors to come in. I brought two potential investors here today from an Indian company, and they're interested to look at what Papua has to offer," she said.

Jain added that what Papua lacked was promotion since many potential foreign investors were not familiar with Papua as a mineral-rich region.

Ibrahim A. Hajiyev, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Indonesia, added that the fact that some areas were still restricted to foreigners should not deter new investment.

"I think that's an issue that will go away in the future," he said.

The delegation also posed questions about plans to establish direct links between Papua and neighboring countries such as Singapore or Malaysia given Papua's vision to become a tourist destination

The delegation said that with current flight limitations, foreigners preferred staying in Jakarta or going to Bali.

On Thursday the delegation will meet with Jayapura officials for a presentation on what Jayapura, Papua's capital and most developed area, has to offer investors.

The delegation consists of envoys from Azerbaijan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Algeria, Libya, Sudan, South Africa. Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

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