West Papua HIPMI Regional Board Proposes Holding National Congress in Jakarta or Bali

The West Papua Regional Board of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) has expressed opposition to the planned location of the XVIII HIPMI National Congress in Lampung on June 10, 2026. Lamek Dowansiba, Chairman of the West Papua HIPMI Regional Board, stated that selecting Lampung as host is not strategic for members from eastern Indonesia, particularly Papua. ‘For me, the National Congress should be held in a strategic location. Considering we are from Papua, eastern Indonesia, flight tickets are very expensive, especially aviation fuel prices,’ Lamek said in a statement on Sunday (24/5/2026). Lamek explained that transport costs are the main obstacle for young entrepreneurs in Papua to attend the event in Lampung. He urged the Steering Committee (SC) and Organising Committee (OC) of the Congress to consider logistical aspects. According to him, the committee should find a central location accessible to all regional representatives from Sabang to Merauke. ‘The cost to get there is extremely high. They should find a central location so we can all attend the Congress,’ Lamek added. He also suggested moving the venue to a city with better accessibility. ‘We propose Jakarta or Bali if not Jakarta. These locations are more strategic for us,’ Lamek stressed. Besides distance issues, Lamek also lamented the lack of information from the Central Board (BPP) HIPMI and the prospective host regarding the venue profile. To date, he claims they have not received detailed presentations about the event. Lamek hopes the venue selection process is not based on individual interests but prioritises fairness for all regional members. The XVIII HIPMI National Congress is scheduled for June 10, 2026. The major agenda of this event is electing a new Central Board Chairman for the 2026–2029 term. (H-3) The controversy over the XVIII HIPMI National Congress venue is intensifying, with several narratives from candidates whose accuracy has yet to be confirmed. At the national forum, Dr. Derysmono, B.Sh., was elected as Chairman of HDMI for the 2026–2030 term. He emphasised that large organisations cannot be managed through symbolic approaches or merely relying on the popularity of the position. The Formatur team is tasked with consulting further with Lemhannas Governor Ace Hasan Syadzily to address the existing vacuum.