A Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) team led by Director General Leonard Louma and Executive Advisor Christopher Nisbert has acknowledged the general situation in Papua is stable and conducive, with economic and social activities running well and normally. This was stated during the team’s visit to Jayapura, Papua on Monday (17/06) to observe conditions.
In addition, both MSG officials agreed that Indonesia could serve as a good example of how a country manages its borders, with good practices that can be replicated in the border areas of fellow MSG member countries.
“Good practices that can be replicated in the border areas of fellow MSG countries,” said MSG Director General Leonard Louma and MSG Executive Advisor Christopher Nisbert in a press statement received by the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information, Tuesday (18/6/2024).
Both also believe that Indonesia’s prominent role in the ASEAN region will be pivotal for MSG member countries due to the various advantages and benefits in various fields.
In particular, Leonard Louma revealed that he would urge cooperation in the plantation sector in MSG with Indonesian involvement, including through the vanilla plantation programme in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. Indonesia’s role is said to be very beneficial, because together with PNG, Indonesia is the world’s largest vanilla producer. He believes an economic corridor in the form of an MSG Vanilla Association is needed to build vanilla commodities in the region.
Indonesia’s involvement is very important because it is believed that it will help open markets in ASEAN. This is very beneficial because the MSG plans to build communications and involve Indonesia regionally in the region.
“This is very beneficial because the MSG is moving to build communication and involve Indonesia regionally in the region. The potential for cooperation in education between the MSG and Indonesia, which may be realised in the near future,” they said.
Separately, Senior Advisor at the Executive Office of the President, Theo Litaay considers the visit of MSG officials to Indonesia as an important breakthrough that benefits the region in various sectors, including economic, socio-cultural, and political.
“This kind of regional cooperation will expand the economic growth area towards the Pacific. This region will be able to enjoy economic growth in the Southeast Asian region as a driver of their development,” he said.
The MSG officials and their team visited Indonesia from Port Moresby by road to the Skouw-Wutung border on Monday. At around 10.00 WIT, the group arrived at the Skouw Cross Border Post (PLBN) and was escorted directly by Indonesian Consul General Tangkuman Alexander. They were then picked up by representatives of the Papua Province Border and Cooperation Agency and continued their journey to Jayapura City to see development in Papua. The two MSG officials will attend the MSG Security Strategy (MSG SS) held by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday (19/6/2024) in Jakarta. The MSG SS is held as an effort to gather input from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) including civil society on key priorities in facing security challenges in the region.
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