RI encourages Wamena coffee development through cooperatives

Wamena (ANTARA) - Minister of Cooperatives, Ferry Juliantono, is facilitating and encouraging the development of the coffee industry in the Papua Pegunungan (Highlands of Papua) to foster greater creativity, ensure high quality, and enhance its global competitiveness.

"The quality of coffee beans in the Highlands of Papua is generally excellent; it simply requires a specialized touch and an effective marketing system to reach its full potential," Juliantono said in a written statement issued in Wamena on Sunday.

According to Juliantono, various superior products from the Highlands of Papua, particularly from Jayawijaya District, such as coffee, food, beverages, apparel, and handicrafts, should be managed through cooperatives to generate added value and expand market reach.

"Cooperatives serve as an economic instrument for the people of Indonesia, including those in Jayawijaya, in the Highlands of Papua. Through cooperatives, local potential can be harnessed optimally, especially to improve the marketing of products like coffee," he said.

Juliantono explained that local governments should facilitate the formation of cooperatives based on the specific types of businesses operated by the community.

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This would allow the Ministry of Cooperatives to provide assistance tailored to the needs of each business sector.

"We hope that local entrepreneurs will establish cooperatives aligned with their respective fields, enabling the Ministry of Cooperatives to provide assistance, ranging from product quality curation and training to financing facilitation," he noted.

He said that, based on information he received, a coffee cooperative in Wamena, Jayawijaya District, has shown positive progress and could become a platform for developing the region's flagship commodity.

"We hope coffee cooperatives in Papua can optimally manage the potential of Wamena coffee, both in terms of quality enhancement and marketing, so that these products can successfully penetrate both domestic and international markets," he said.

Beyond coffee, Juliantono has encouraged the Jayawijaya District Government to facilitate the establishment of cooperatives in products such as batik, apparel, leather goods, and fashion.

The ministry also has access to financial institutions that can be leveraged to support the development of local businesses.

"We will ensure that cooperatives in the Highlands of Papua, especially in Jayawijaya, receive assistance to help them grow and develop, thereby enabling them to boost the community's economic activities sustainably," he said.

Related news: Six Red and White Cooperative outlets completed in Central Papua

Translator: Yudhi Effendi, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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