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MOWANEMANI, Central Papua – The Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) Dogiyai Regency has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting economic transformation in the region.

The transformation, it said, must continue to prioritize the welfare of Indigenous Papuans through the strengthening of the people's economy, youth empowerment, and the targeted, transparent, and sustainable management of Special Autonomy (Otsus) funds, in line with the Timika Agreement.

“The spirit embodied in the Timika Agreement must be translated into concrete actions by the regional government, particularly by strengthening oversight and improving the effectiveness of Otsus fund utilization so that the funds genuinely serve and directly benefit the people of Papua,” APINDO Dogiyai Chairman Melki Tebai said in Mowanemani, the capital of Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua, on Saturday (May 16).

According to Melki, economic transformation in Papua, particularly in Dogiyai, is in line with the Timika Agreement, which emerged from a meeting of the Strategic Coordination Forum of the Association of Regional Heads across Papua. The meeting was held at the Horison Diana Hotel in Timika, Mimika Regency, Central Papua, on Monday and Tuesday (May 11–12).

The Timika Agreement emphasizes the importance of development synergy, equitable distribution of community welfare, and stronger cross-sector coordination in addressing the actual needs of the people of Cenderawasih Land.

“To date, APINDO Dogiyai considers the regency to still face various economic development challenges, ranging from high poverty rates and limited formal employment opportunities to weak development of productive community enterprises and the suboptimal distribution of economic empowerment programs at the district and village levels,” said Melki, a young Central Papuan figure from Dogiyai.

Other challenges include limited access to business capital, a lack of skills training, restricted market access, inadequate assistance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), shortages of agricultural and fisheries equipment, and limited access to economic infrastructure in remote districts.

“All of these are challenges and obstacles that the government continues to address, but progress has not been optimal because there is still no single, reliable, and accurate data set that can be used as a basis for policymaking in addressing economic development challenges,” Melki added.

Melki stressed that APINDO Dogiyai is ready to assist the regional government by providing field data on the actual conditions of communities and the needs of economic actors across various strategic sectors, as a concrete form of support for regional development.

“If technical regional government agencies, or OPDs, do not yet have complete field data, we are ready to provide it, particularly data concerning the challenges currently faced by communities. This approach is important so that stakeholders and policymakers can use reliable information when formulating programs and activities within their respective agencies,” he said.

Melki also highlighted the importance of involving youth community organizations (Organisasi Kemasyarakatan Pemuda/OKP) in strengthening regional economic development.

“Youth organizations have a strategic position because they are directly embedded in communities and understand the real conditions faced by small business owners, farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen, market traders, and young people who are building independent businesses,” Melki said.

Coordination among the regional government, technical agencies, business actors, and youth organizations must be strengthened to ensure that development programs are genuinely targeted and do not merely serve administrative purposes.

The success of regional development should not be measured solely by administrative reports or ceremonial activities, but by tangible benefits that can be directly felt by communities, particularly Indigenous Papuans.

“Economic development success should not be measured by the number of programs listed in official regional documents, but by tangible evidence on the ground, such as improved community welfare, more vibrant people's markets, growing community businesses, increased employment opportunities for young Indigenous people from Dogiyai, and declining poverty rates,” Melki said.

Government budgets, particularly Otsus funds and regional economic empowerment programs, he continued, must be allocated based on communities’ actual needs and accurate field data.

“We hope the regional government and all stakeholders can make strengthening the community economy a top priority in regional development, so that Otsus funds truly become an instrument for improving people’s welfare rather than merely an administrative agenda recorded in official documents,” Melki said.

Source: Odiyaiwuu.com