Ministry of Villages ready to help accelerate rural development in West Papua

West Papua also becomes the locus of the Transformasi Ekonomi Kampung Terpadu (TEKAD) programme in Manokwari, Manokwari Selatan, Pegunungan Arfak, Fakfak, and Kaimana, covering 185 villages.

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Villages and the Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Kemendes PDT) is ready to accelerate village development in West Papua by maximising the implementation of a range of programmes, such as export villages.

“We can now export directly through BUMDes,” said Minister Yandri Susanto during an audience with West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan at the Kemendes PDT office in Jakarta on Wednesday.

In line with this, Minister Yandri asked the West Papua Provincial Government to map in detail the potentials of villages that can be developed and exported.

In addition to export villages, there is also a village tourism programme that can accelerate village development. The governor was asked to designate one village as a model for developing village tourism.

“West Papua is also a locus of the Transformasi Ekonomi Kampung Terpadu (TEKAD) programme in Manokwari, Manokwari Selatan, Pegunungan Arfak, Fakfak, and Kaimana — 185 villages,” said the minister.

Earlier in the audience, West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan had outlined priority programmes requiring Kemendes PDT intervention in seven regencies, 91 districts, 57 kelurahan (urban villages), and 817 kampung (rural villages).

Mandacan also stated that the province is preparing capacity-building programmes for civil servants and village residents. In addition, there are programmes for rural infrastructure development and development of underdeveloped areas.

Minister Yandri welcomed the proposals as they relate to the 12 Priority Actions for Building Villages, Building Indonesia.