T

he Papua Center of the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Indonesia (UI) was officially opened on Monday.

The center is a joint venture between UI, Papua’s Cendrawasih University and mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia.

The launch was marked by the signing of an agreement between the faculty dean Bambang Shergi Laksmono and Freeport representative Rozik B. Soetjipto.

The agreement covers a students and lecturers exchange between UI and the Cendrawasih University, the holding of a cultural week focused on the Kamoro tribes and publication of books on Kamoro art and culture.

Bambang said that development in Papua was not easy, considering problems within the province, which is also known as the land of Cendrawasih.

“We need to get ourselves familiar with its structures and social backgrounds,” he said as quoted by tempo.co.

He expected that the center could help develop ideas and create a foundation for development in the province.

Freeport has also signed an agreement with Cendrawasih University’s rector Festus Simbiak that covers cooperation in education, apprenticeships, graduate development programs and student training.