Zulkifli Hasan Invited as Keynote Speaker for Papeda Summit

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Papeda Summit 2026 committee, together with the West Papua Daya Provincial Government, has invited Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan to be the keynote speaker at the forum to be held in Sorong from 2-4 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 like diving,” Zulkifli Hasan said in response to the invitation. The invitation was conveyed directly during a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food office on Thursday (16/7) by a delegation led by West Papua Daya Deputy Governor Ahmad Nausrau. Nausrau expressed hope that Zulkifli Hasan could attend and serve as the keynote speaker at the forum, which will bring together central government, regional governments, indigenous communities, civil society organisations, academics, and development partners. “This activity is intended to strengthen communication between the central government and regional governments in efforts to realise sustainable development in Tanah Papua,” Ahmad Nausrau said in a statement on Friday. “Therefore, we request the support and attention of the central government so that we can jointly safeguard Papua’s natural wealth through collaboration between the central government, regional governments, and civil society organisations,” he added. The Papeda Summit 2026 is a first-of-its-kind forum focusing on the theme of sustainable development in Tanah Papua. According to the committee’s presentation during 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 from indigenous communities across the six provinces in Tanah Papua. The agenda is also planned to serve as the launch of the Cendrawasih Fund, a financing scheme for sustainable development programmes in Tanah Papua, as well as the formulation of the Sorong Declaration as a commitment by the six provinces in Tanah Papua to strengthen development collaboration.