Director General for Population and Civil Registration Teguh Setyabudi said in Manokwari that the initiative could set an important precedent for other provinces in the region.
He noted that digitalising administrative and bureaucratic services is a core element of President Prabowo Subianto’s national development agenda under the eight “Asta Cita” missions.
“West Papua has shown that digitalisation is not limited to major urban centres. This progress offers crucial momentum for Indonesia,” Setyabudi said.
He stressed that digitising Indigenous Papuan identity data is meant to strengthen inclusive civil registration services while improving accuracy and validity.
“Accurate data on Indigenous Papuans is essential to prevent misidentification and ensure government programmes are properly targeted,” he said, adding that all local governments in Papua are required to update and manage Indigenous population records responsibly.
He said population data governance underpins public services nationwide, including social assistance, education, health care and spatial planning.
Setyabudi added that Indonesia had digitised the identity data of 16,807,143 residents as of November 4, reflecting steady progress in the government’s digital transformation push.
“IKD does more than replace physical ID cards. It offers encrypted security, biometric integration, accessibility and fast verification,” he said.
West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan said the shift to digital civil registration aims to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of public services.
“IKD for Indigenous Papuans ensures that all residents have proper access to civil registration,” he said.
He added that the provincial government will intensify coordination with district administrations, traditional leaders and religious organisations to expand IKD coverage.
“This is an important step toward more transparent and responsive governance,” he said.
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Translator: Fransiskus S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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