InfoSAWIT, MERAUKE – Assistant II South Papua Secretariat, Sunaryo that deals with palm oil investment and permits, when representing Governor of South Papua meeting with the indigenous people and PT. Dongin Prabhawa at Sunny Day recently, said that ever since Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) was launched in 2010 - 2011, 49 plantation permits were published.

But from the numbers, only few companies operate until now. They are Korindo Group, PT. BIA, AJP, APM, and IJS. Sunaryo mentioned it would be significant to realize sustainable development in the province. Every investment should balance and not get profits only.

“Just like Ministry of Investment ordered, there should be no region that could develop without investment. The next is that investment should not be oriented in profits only but also maintain the balance. We have to notice these,” Sunaryo said, as InfoSAWIT quoted from papuaselatanpos, Tuesday (2/7/2024).

He also explained the issue about the indigenous people’s areas and PT. Dongin Prabhawa, as one involved company in the province. He thought, in the province level, forest function change would be their responsibility while the other utilization areas would be the authority of the regional government.

The controversy described the complexity in permit and investment management in South Papua Province, the challenges to maintain the balance among economic development, environmental protection, and the indigenous people’s rights. (T2)