Papua Highlands Governor supports Papeda Summit 2026

Papua Highlands Governor John Tabo has expressed support for the Papeda Summit 2026, which will be held in Sorong, Southwest Papua, on 2-4 September.

The support was conveyed by John when receiving the Papeda Summit team in Wamena on Thursday (13/8). During the meeting, the team presented the agenda for the forum, which will bring together various parties to discuss sustainable development in Tanah Papua.

“I support this, it is a very good activity that brings parties together. I will try to attend,” John said in a statement on Monday.

John also highlighted the importance of developing local Papuan commodities as a driver of the indigenous economy.

According to him, various local commodity potentials can be developed so that communities derive economic benefits from the resources their regions possess.

He expressed hope that indigenous communities would have rights over their territories while also gaining space to manage natural resources sustainably.

In addition, John considered the involvement of academics, especially academics from Papua, to be important in discussions on the development agenda in Tanah Papua.

“The involvement of academics is also important in the upcoming Papeda Summit, especially academics from Papua because they understand the conditions of our land better,” he said.

Maryo Sanuddin, Regional Head of EcoNusa for Papua, representing the Papeda Summit team, said academics would be one of the groups involved in the Papeda Summit 2026.

The forum will run for three days and is expected to be attended by around 500 participants, including representatives from the central government, embassies, academics, civil society organisations and development partners.

Around 100 speakers and moderators are also scheduled to take part in various sessions discussing sustainable development and strengthening collaboration in Tanah Papua.

In addition to discussion forums, the Papeda Summit will feature an exhibition of local products and good practices from indigenous communities across six provinces in Tanah Papua.

The event is also planned as a momentum for drafting the Sorong Declaration as a joint commitment by the six provinces to strengthen collaboration in sustainable development.