"We highly expect the Sorong SEZ to bring about benefits for the people of Sorong District in terms of the economy and workforce absorption,"
Sorong (ANTARA) - The Sorong Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Southwest Papua is expected to play a vital role in empowering a large number of workers for the sake of boosting the local economy, the Manpower Ministry stated.

As cited from the website of the National SEZ Council, the Sorong SEZ, spanning an area of 523.7 hectares, is targeting to empower 15,024 people and draw a total investment of Rp32.2 trillion (approximately US$2 billion) by 2025.

"We highly expect the Sorong SEZ to bring about benefits for the people of Sorong District in terms of the economy and workforce absorption," the ministry's Substance Coordinator for Macro Manpower, Rini Nurhayati, stated in Sorong on Saturday.

Nurhayati explained that her side's visit to the district was meant to discuss the expected quantity of workforce absorbed by the SEZ with local governments, adding that the visit was a follow-up to the earlier visit held in September this year.

She then noted that the Manpower Ministry is visiting Sorong to review the profile and dynamics related to the preparation of workforce in the district, so that the central government can decide on which training courses are needed to augment the skills and capabilities of local workers in the SEZ.

"We need to know the things that need to be prepared and what kind of training courses are required here. It is necessary to make sure of those matters," she elaborated.

She further noted that the Manpower and Transmigration Office of Sorong District had completed the formulation of the 2023-2028 Workforce Plans Document of Sorong District.

"The (local) government should use the plans outlined in the document as a reference," she added.

Nurhayati also affirmed that the Ministry of Manpower is committed to continually supporting the Sorong district government in preparing local workers as well as facilities required for boosting the capacity of human resources in the district.

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Translator: Yuvensius L, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Arie Novarina
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