Papua Province looks to diversity export commodities

The Papua Provincial Government will undertake efforts to diversify export products to increase the province's economies of scale. Superior products such as fish, coffee, chocolate, and handicrafts are expected to be able to enter foreign markets. Papua Regional Secretariat Economic and Development Assistant Setyo Wahyudi stated that wood products have so far been one of Papua's strengths in terms of exports, but other types of products have not been exported optimally.

"In the future, it is hoped that fish, chocolate, and coffee can follow," he said as quoted from a Papua Provincial Government official statement on Apr. 23, 2025.

Setyo said that increasing production and quality are the main requirements for continuous direct exports. Papua Province has exported commodities other than wood several times, but through other regions or ports outside the province.

"Therefore, we are encouraging infrastructure improvements and support from related agencies," he said.

The value of Papua Province's non-oil and gas exports reached US$5.88 billion in March 2025 according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) Papua data. BPS Papua Head Adriana Helena Carolina confirmed that wood and wood products accounted for most of that figure by US$5.62 billion.

"Papua's four largest export destinations are Australia, Saudi Arabia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand," she divulged.