Coordinating Minister: Development in Papua Must Benefit Indigenous Communities

Sorong (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, has asserted that development in the Land of Papua must involve indigenous communities and provide them with direct benefits.

“Development and the equitable distribution of development must involve indigenous peoples and ensure they receive the benefits. If it does not benefit the people, then we must question that development,” he stated while opening the PAPEDA Summit 2026 in Sorong, Southwest Papua, on Wednesday.

According to him, the government must place greater trust in the Papuan people in determining and executing the direction of development.

“I believe Papua must be given full trust,” he added.

The Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs attended as one of the keynote speakers at the Papua Action for Development, Economy, and Sustainable Nature (PAP_EDA) Summit 2026, held from 2–4 September 2026 in Sorong.

He also expressed alignment with the views of the Governor of Southwest Papua, Elisa Kambu, regarding the importance of ensuring that indigenous communities derive tangible benefits from development.

The PAPEDA Summit 2026 carries the theme “Celebrating Papua Action for People, Environment, and Sustainable Development,” placing humanity, the environment, and culture as the foundations of development in the Land of Papua.

The Chairman of the PAPEDA Summit 2026, Julian Kelly Kambu, reported that the event was attended by approximately 1,030 participants, including representatives from central and regional governments, indigenous communities, academics, the private sector, research institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, and the international community.

Over the course of three days, the forum discussed five strategic agendas: the alignment of central and regional government policies for sustainable development and climate action; the recognition and protection of indigenous rights; the development of a New Nature Economy; the strengthening of food and energy sovereignty; and the integration of science, innovation, and local wisdom through a development approach spanning from the mountains to the sea.

He expressed hope that the forum would produce concrete collaborations to preserve Papua’s natural wealth while ensuring that the benefits of development are shared fairly by the communities living in and protecting the region.