JAYAPURA - The Papua Provincial Government encourages the opening of air exports to maximize regional income and improve the local economy.

This was conveyed by the Assistant for the Economy and People’s Welfare, Setyo Wahyudi, in Jayapura, Wednesday (18/9/2024).

"For exports in Papua currently it is still through Surabaya but it will be improved and see the obstacles."

"Slowly we will continue to encourage both exports through ports and airports because with direct exports, people's income will increase," he said.

Meanwhile, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Papua released the value of exports in the local region which increased by 174.56 percent or worth 9,367.27 million United States (US) dollars in August 2024, compared to July worth 3,411.78 million US dollars.

According to the Head of BPS Papua, Adriana Helena Carolina, the increase was due to the type of export in August 2024, namely oil and gas and non-oil and gas exports.

"In August, Papua Province's exports consisted of oil and gas worth 5.41 million US dollars and non-oil and gas of 9.361.86 million US dollars," she said.

She added that currently the export of commodities from Papua through ports outside which according to the 2-digit HS goods class in August was through the Port of Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, with an export value of 6,098.33 million US dollars.

"Cumulatively, the value of Papuan exports loaded through ports outside the Papua region in the January-August 2024 period has increased by 20.82 percent when compared to the export value in January-August 2023 which amounted to 22,720.15 million US dollars," she said. ***