Timotius Matuan, head of the provincial Department of Youth, Sports, Tourism, and Creative Economy, said Sunday that promoting the creative economy is key to boosting the region’s income.
"Young people in the eight districts must turn their local potential into valuable products that generate income," Matuan said.
He noted that the sector can strengthen the economy by tapping into various local resources.
"Young people with skills in wood carving, weaving noken [traditional bags], and sustainable coffee processing should continue to hone their expertise," he said, adding that the provincial government will provide training and funding support.
To advance the sector, Matuan's office is working with technical agencies in each district to empower local communities.
"We continue to coordinate to ensure this program reaches indigenous Papuans, with the main goal of increasing their income and welfare," he said.
Matuan added that his office offers business capital of about Rp50 million (US$3,076) per group for initiatives such as coffee, honey, noken production, and batik. Groups will be evaluated annually — if a business fails to develop, funding will be redirected to others.
This year, the province has allocated around Rp3 billion to support creative economy players in the eight districts.
"In Jayawijaya District, there are dozens of assisted players with clear records, while in the other seven districts, monitoring is still lacking," Matuan said. "Going forward, evaluation and monitoring will be strengthened to ensure all players are well accommodated."
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Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Anton Santoso
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