Zulkifli Hasan Invited as Keynote Speaker for Papeda Summit
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The organising committee of Papeda Summit 2026, together with the Government of Southwest Papua Province, has invited Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan to be the keynote speaker at the forum, to be held in Sorong from 2 to 4 September 2026.
“Yes, I will come. I have a personal connection with Papua. I have been to Yahukimo four or five times. Not to mention Sorong and Raja Ampat — I love diving there,” said Zulkifli Hasan in response to the invitation.
The invitation was conveyed directly at a meeting at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs on Thursday (16 July) by a delegation led by the Deputy Governor of Southwest Papua, Ahmad Nausrau. Nausrau expressed hope that Zulkifli Hasan could attend and serve as the keynote speaker at the forum, which will bring together the central government, regional governments, indigenous communities, civil society organisations, academics, and development partners.
“This event is intended to strengthen communication between the central government and regional governments in efforts to achieve sustainable development in the Land of Papua,” said Ahmad Nausrau in a statement released by Commslab on Friday.
“For that reason, we ask for the support and attention of the central government so that together we can safeguard Papua’s natural wealth through collaboration between the central government, regional governments, and civil society organisations,” he said.
Papeda Summit 2026 is the inaugural forum to carry the theme of sustainable development in the Land of Papua. According to the committee’s presentation at a preparatory meeting on 14 July, the event is expected to be attended by around 500 participants, involving 100 speakers and moderators from government, academia, civil society organisations, the private sector, and development partners.
In addition to discussion forums, the Papeda Summit will feature an exhibition of local products and best practices of indigenous communities from the six provinces in the Land of Papua.
The agenda is also planned to serve as the momentum for the initial launch of the Cendrawasih Fund, a financing scheme for sustainable development programmes in the Land of Papua, as well as the drafting of the Sorong Declaration as a joint commitment of the six provinces in the Land of Papua to strengthen collaboration on sustainable development.