Jakarta, The Indonesian government, through the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut B. Pandjaitan, officially launched Sail Teluk Cenderawasih on Friday, February 3, 2023. This annual event will take place in the Papua Province, covering four districts: Biak Numfor, Waropen, Kepulauan Yapen, and Sarmi, with the theme “Strengthening Indonesia’s Maritime Sovereignty in the Pacific.”
In his speech, Minister Luhut stated that Sail Teluk Cenderawasih is the 13th installment of the Sail Indonesia series, following previous events in Raja Ampat in 2014 and the XX National Games (PON) in 2021. Once again, Papua has the opportunity to showcase its natural beauty and wealth through this event.
“This event will not only serve as a promotional platform but also as an effort to strengthen the spirit of unity in regional development, through collaboration between local governments, the central government, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), the private sector, and communities,” said Luhut.
The primary focus of Sail Teluk Cenderawasih is the development of fisheries, investment, and regional potential. Luhut emphasized the importance of accelerating the export of marine products by improving supporting infrastructure, enhancing the quality of human resources, and streamlining post-harvest distribution systems. This is expected to drive regional economic growth, particularly in the fisheries sector.
In addition, the event will feature an investment forum aimed at attracting investors to support Papua’s development. A local product exhibition and a cultural arts festival will be held over three days to introduce the region’s potential to a wider audience. Luhut encouraged local governments to be at the forefront of supporting local products as a tangible expression of the “Proud of Indonesian Products” movement.
Sail Teluk Cenderawasih is also expected to strengthen the national tourism sector, which is a key priority for post-pandemic economic recovery. Minister Luhut expressed his support for various activities throughout the year as part of the event and hoped that the enthusiasm and vibrancy of this initiative would continue until the grand finale in November.
Furthermore, Luhut hopes that Sail Teluk Cenderawasih will not be a one-time event but a sustainable program that will continue to accelerate regional development and improve the welfare of the people in Papua in the years to come.
“I extend my appreciation to all parties who have supported this event. I hope that Sail Teluk Cenderawasih will bring positive impacts to the region’s economic growth and contribute to Papua’s progress,” concluded Minister Luhut.
