Accompanying Gibran to West Papua, Ribka Haluk Says Cocoa Downstreaming Is Tangible Proof of Special Autonomy Fund Impact

Deputy Home Affairs Minister (Wamendagri) Ribka Haluk has asserted that the development of the cocoa industry from upstream to downstream in West Papua is one tangible proof of the successful utilisation of the Papua Special Autonomy (Otsus) Fund. The programme is considered capable of providing added economic value while improving the welfare of the community, particularly Indigenous Papuans (OAP).

The statement was made by Ribka whilst accompanying Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Gibran Rakabuming Raka on a working visit to West Papua Province. The visit was part of the government’s effort to see firsthand the results of development programmes supported by the Otsus Fund.

During the agenda, Ribka and Gibran inspected a cocoa processing facility in Ransiki District, South Manokwari Regency, West Papua, on Saturday, 20 June 2026.

According to Ribka, the success of the Otsus Fund is not only measured by the size of the budget disbursed by the central government to the regions, but also by the benefits directly felt by the community. She assessed that the development of the cocoa commodity to produce value-added products is a concrete example of how the Otsus Fund can drive regional economic growth whilst opening up welfare opportunities for the Papuan people.

“Today I accompanied the Vice President on a visit here. This is the result of good implementation of the Otsus Fund,” Ribka said during the inspection at the cocoa factory area.

Ribka explained that the integrated management of cocoa, from the cultivation sector to the processing of final products, is a form of development that provides a sustainable economic impact. Through this scheme, the community not only acts as a supplier of raw materials but also benefits from the processing that generates higher economic value.

Ribka stressed that the main objective of implementing Papua’s Special Autonomy is to improve community welfare and strengthen the role of Indigenous Papuans in regional development. Therefore, every programme funded through the Otsus Fund must be able to deliver tangible impacts and empower the local community. According to her, the success of a programme can be seen when the community truly feels the benefits of development in their daily lives.