Freeport commits to developing education and economy in Mimika
PT Freeport Indonesia is committed to developing the education, health, infrastructure, and economic sectors in Mimika Regency, Central Papua, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mimika Regency Government and the Amungme and Kamoro Community Empowerment Foundation (YPMAK).
“The purpose (of signing the memorandum of understanding) is none other than for the welfare of the community in Mimika Regency, especially the Amungme, Kamoro, and other related tribes, as well as non-indigenous Papuans living in Mimika,” said PTFI President Director Tony Wenas at the signing ceremony in Jakarta on Wednesday.
On that occasion, three memoranda of understanding were signed. The first was signed by the Mimika Regency Government and PT Freeport Indonesia concerning the development of the economic, health, education, and infrastructure sectors. The second memorandum of understanding was signed by the Mimika Regency Government and PT Freeport Indonesia regarding the extension of the MoU on the utilisation of tailings produced by PTFI. The final memorandum of understanding was signed by the Mimika Regency Government and the Amungme and Kamoro Community Empowerment Foundation (YPMAK) in the fields of economic development, health, education, and infrastructure.
“Our concentration is, of course, education, health, and also village-based economy, infrastructure, and so forth. We hope that this synergy can continue to be carried out together,” said Tony.
Regarding the signing of the memorandum of understanding, Mimika Regent Johannes Rettob expressed his appreciation to PTFI and hoped that the ongoing collaboration between the local government, Freeport, and YPMAK could proceed well and sustainably. “We express our deepest gratitude and highest appreciation for the goodwill that allows us all to work together,” said Johannes.
On that occasion, he also conveyed the Mimika Regional Government’s desire to cooperate with Freeport regarding basic health research and scholarship assistance for the education of the Mimika community. “From basic health research, we can see how our infrastructure affects health; it turns out people are sick because the infrastructure is poor, the environment is poor, and so on. Education is also our problem. Today we signed three MOUs, and this is extraordinary. And this is something I think we must support,” said Johannes.