APINDO Papua Barat Commends Governor Dominggus Mandacan for Advancing Oil & Gas and Animal Feed Industry Development

MANOKWARI - The West Papua chapter of the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO Papua Barat) has expressed appreciation to West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan for his commitment to strengthening the regional economy through the development of the oil and gas sector as well as the construction of an animal feed manufacturing plant.

APINDO Papua Barat Chair Sroyer Elisa stated that the provincial government's efforts in developing the oil and gas industry have contributed significantly - approximately 98.4 percent - to West Papua's economic growth. According to him, the sector remains a key pillar for maintaining economic stability while attracting investment into the region.

"West Papua's economic growth continues to show a positive trend, and the oil and gas sector remains the primary driver. This deserves appreciation because it has generated tangible impacts on regional economic circulation," Elisa said.

Despite the sector's dominant contribution, Elisa emphasized the importance of diversifying the regional economy so that development benefits can be distributed more broadly across communities. One strategic initiative he highlighted was the planned construction of an animal feed factory in the Prafi Plains area.

According to Elisa, the feed mill project represents an important breakthrough because it will not only strengthen the livestock sector but also create new employment opportunities for local communities, including corn farmers, fishermen, and small-scale entrepreneurs.

"This will create a new economic ecosystem. Farmers, livestock breeders, and fishermen can all be directly involved. The impact will extend beyond production growth to include greater employment absorption," he explained.

He further noted that the factory would generate an integrated supply chain involving multiple sectors, such as agriculture through the supply of corn and soybeans, as well as fisheries through the utilization of fish waste as feed ingredients.

APINDO Papua Barat also expressed readiness to collaborate with the regional government through various partnership schemes, including supplying raw materials to support the operation of the planned feed production facility.

Elisa stressed that APINDO would encourage greater involvement of indigenous Papuan entrepreneurs and local business actors in the production and distribution chain so that West Papua's economic potential can be enjoyed more broadly by local communities.

"We want to ensure that indigenous Papuan entrepreneurs and local business players become part of this growth. APINDO is a large home for entrepreneurs, and we are ready to safeguard a healthy investment climate," he stated.

He added that through an upcoming working meeting, APINDO Papua Barat plans to formulate concrete strategies to strengthen other key sectors, including fisheries, tourism, and plantations.

"If all these sectors are optimized properly, economic growth will continue to increase and directly contribute to reducing poverty levels in West Papua," Elisa concluded.

Source: PinFunPapua.com