Province

Papua

Papua – Papua

Papua province emerges as the easternmost province of Indonesia, with its geographical boundaries stretching to the very edge of the archipelago. To the east, the province is surrounded by Papua New Guinea; to the north, the Pacific Ocean; to the west, Cendrawasih Bay; and to the south, the provinces of Central Papua and Highland Papua.

Covering a land area of 319,036 square kilometers, the province is the largest in all of Indonesia. It is home to a population of a little over 1 million people. The province’s administrative hub is located in the city of Jayapura, which also serves as the capital and the sole city in the province. It is divided into eight districts.

Papua showcases a diverse tapestry of tribes, religions, and languages, with 255 ethnic groups, each speaking different local languages. Some of these ethnic groups include the Ansus, Amungme, Asmat, Bauzi, Biak, Dani, Empur, and Hatam people. Beyond these mentioned groups, Papua likely is home to many others, all contributing to the cultural richness of the region.

The religious landscape in Papua is predominantly Christian, with nearly 64.23 percent of the population adhering to this faith. Islam follows behind with 29.85 percent of the population, and Catholicism represents 5.62 percent of the population. Other religions in this province make up less than 1 percent of the population.

Show more

Economic Description

Papua has showcased a growing economy. In 2022, the province recorded a Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Rp 172.9 trillion, with the economic landscape primarily driven by three sectors: mining and excavation, construction, and agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.

The mining and excavation sector contributed approximately Rp 74 trillion to the province’s GRDP. As the largest gold-producing area in Indonesia, gold is Papua’s leading commodity in the sector. Additionally, the province boasts the largest oil reserves In Indonesia, producing around 223 million barrels of oil in 2022. With rich, untapped mineral resources in Papua that could benefit local communities through development, opportunities emerge for investors to develop responsible mining projects.

Construction is the second-largest contributor to the province’s GRDP, with around Rp 20.1 trillion generated in 2022. Holding a Construction Expense Index reaching 192.57 in 2022, Papua ranks as the most expensive province for construction in Indonesia. This high index indicates significant market potential for construction in Papua. The province’s infrastructure development efforts aim to create a win-win situation by empowering both the public and private businesses in the region.

Furthermore, the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector is the third-largest contributor to Papua's economy, generating Rp 17.1 trillion in 2022. Within this sector, fisheries stand out as a significant economic driver. Notably, Cendrawasih Bay is the largest tuna fishing area in the region, with an annual export potential of 600,000 to 1.1 million tonnes.

Beyond these top three sectors, there are priority investment opportunities in Papua, particularly in the city of Jayapura. These investments focus on the agro-industry and the industrial sectors. In the agro-industry, there is an opportunity to invest in Wamena’s Arabica coffee beans and Cendrawasih coffee powder. Additionally, in the industrial sector, there is potential for investment in an integrated sago starch industry.

Show more

Latest News

February 16, 2025

The Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP) stated that as many as 15.8 tons of fresh fish from the Modern Fishing Village (Kalomo) in the Samber and Binyeri villages of Yendidori District, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua Province, were again sent to the Java Island market.

"The Modern Fishing Village, or Kalamo, in Samber Binyeri Village, Biak [Numfor Regency], Papua has proven successful in driving the local economy and industry. For the third time, as many as 15.8 tons of fresh fish caught by local fishermen have been sold to Java Island," said KKP Capture Fisheries Director-General Lotharia Latif in a statement in Jakarta on Jan. 27, 2025.

He said that the shipment of fish was carried out by the Samber Binyeri Maju Cooperative (KSBM), which manages Kalamo Biak as an effort to drive the local people's economic conditions and expand market access for fishery products.

"The KSBM is proof of the success of the cooperative-based approach in improving the welfare of fishermen, and we hope that this cooperative will continue to grow as a people's business entity that empowers fishermen," said Lotharia.

Lotharia divulged that 13.5 tons of fresh fish from the Kalomo in Samber and Binyeri villages had been delivered to Semarang City, Central Java Province by KSBM in the first week of December 2024. He added that the success of the shipment was inseparable from the support of the Biak Numfor Regency Marine and Fisheries Office and PT Perikanan Nusantara Jaya, which had worked hard to ensure smooth operations from preparation to distribution of KSBM's catches.

Meanwhile, Biak Numfor Regency Marine and Fisheries Office Head Effendi Igirisa explained that the strategic location of Biak Numfor Regency in the Pacific Ocean waters provides advantages for the development of the tuna fisheries industry in Eastern Indonesia.

He noted that the shipments made included various types of lucrative fishes such as tuna, skipjack tuna, marlin, and Pacific reef fishes. The shipments were packaged using cold chain technology to ensure freshness and quality until they reached their destination, with operational support from the Biak Numfor Regency Fisheries Service and PT Perikanan Nusantara Jaya.

"The Kalamo facility built by the KKP has made a real contribution to small-scale fishermen, and this third phase of fish shipments shows the ability of local fishermen to supply domestic market needs," explained Effendi.

Meanwhile, KSBM Chair Adam Mampioper assessed that the needs of fishermen's businesses and their families can be met by cooperative business units. Therefore, he encouraged the local community to join as cooperative members and support all KSBM business activities.

Previously, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, said that the success of Kalamo Biak marked a step forward in efforts to encourage the self-reliance of local fishermen through cooperatives and professional management. The Kalamo is also expected to become a model for a modern fishermen cooperative that is highly competitive at both the national and international scale.

Read more
Load more