MANOKWARI - Joint understanding towards  Sail Cenderawasih Bay   (STC) 2023 was mutually agreed across the Papua Provincial Government and the West Papua Provincial Government, as well as 9 districts in Papua, related to preparations for the STC 2023.

The agreement was taken in Mansinam Island, Manokwari Regency, West Papua Province, February 5, 2022, to coincide with the commemoration of the 167th Anniversary of the Gospel Message in The Land of Papua.

According to the Expert Staff of the Ministry of National Development Planning/ National Development Planning Agency for the Development of the Superior Sector and Infrastructure Velix Wanggai, Sail Teluk Cenderawasih 2023 is a national agenda initiated by the Papua Provincial Government, and is seriously encouraged by the Government of Biak Numfor Regency, and furthermore together with the Supiori Regency Government, Yapen Islands Provincial Government, Waropen Regency Government, Mamberamo Raya Provincial Government and Nabire Regency Government. 

"At the meeting in Jakarta on November 17, 2021, it was agreed that three Regency Governments in West Papua, namely the Manokwari Provincial Government, the South Manokwari Provincial Government and the Wondama Bay Provincial Government, will also join the six Provincial Governments in Papua to agree on the 2023 Sail of Cenderawasih Bay"

"So it is expected that the STC 2023 agenda can support other tourist destinations and support the regional economy in the Arfak Mountains region, Paniai Lake, Wagete Lake, Triton Bay and other areas in The Land of Papua," velix said.

Meanwhile, The Regent of Biak Numfor who is also the Chairman of the Association of Regents in Cenderawasih Bay, Herry Ario Naap, outlined various activities that will be packaged in the draft of Sail Cenderawasih Bay  .

The event included the development of community-based marine tourism, historical tourism and religious tourism of The Gospel Message, the improvement of fisheries business with integrated marine and fishery centers (SKPT), improvement of basic infrastructure and connectivity of both Biak and Manokwari waterfront cities, strengthening cultural arts center, the implementation of sport tourism in several bay destinations, as well as improving education and health services.

The Mansinam Agreement for  Sail Cenderawasih Bay   produced on February 5, 2022 contains the collaboration of the Provincial Governments of Papua and West Papua and nine Regency Governments in the Cenderawasih Bay region in support of the direction of President Joko Widodo on March 11, 2022 to commit development in the Papua region. 

"In order for a new spirit to be carried out, a new paradigm, a new way of working. We must build a new system and design a more effective way of working in order to be able to produce a leap in welfare progress for the people of Papua and West Papua, "said the President.

According to Velix Wanggai, in the framework of the new spirit and new design for the leap of Papua and West Papua development, the two provincial governments and nine districts agreed to propose the idea and implementation of the Sail Teluk Cenderawasih (STC) in 2023, while affirming Papua as Indonesia's leading door in the Pacific Region.

This is proposed to be contained in the Presidential Regulation on the Master Plan for The Acceleration of Papua Development year 2022 - 2041 and the Presidential Regulation on the Papua Development Acceleration Action Plan Phase I 2022 - 2024.

As a spirit of collaboration and cooperation between regions in Papua province and West Papua province, the Mansinam Agreement, among others, affirms: 

First, form the Cenderawasih Bay Festival Working Team in 2022 towards Sail Teluk Cenderawasih 2023 and draw up the concept of the Cenderawasih Bay Festival Activity Calendar in 2022 and STC 2023.

Second, drafting Strategic Programs and Activities for the Acceleration of Papua and West Papua Development as part of the Preparation of sail of Cenderawasih Bay 2023 in the Master Plan for The Acceleration of Papua 2022-2041.

Third, push Sail Teluk Cenderawasih year 2023 into the legal umbrella of accelerating Papua development.

Fourth, encourage support, cooperation and collaboration across Ministries / Institutions, Provincial Government, Regency / City Government, community institutions, religious institutions and the general public, to succeed in the implementation of the Cenderawasih Bay Festival in 2022 Towards Sail Cenderawasih Bay.

Fifth, prepare for the launch of  Sail Cenderawasih Bay in 2023 in Jakarta, in mid-2022 on an international scale, which is supported jointly across Ministries / Institutions, the Provincial Government of Papua and West Papua, and nine regencies in the Cenderawasih Bay region.

Through STC 2023 as a policy instrument in moving the economic potential of the region, encouraging regional connectivity, developing the socio-cultural people of Papua, strengthening Indonesia's maritime sovereignty in eastern Indonesia, and strengthening Papua's role as Indonesia's leading gateway in the Pacific Region.

The agreement to  Sail Cenderawasih Bay 2023 was signed by both the Provincial Governments of Papua and West Papua, nine Regency Governments, and was known by the Deputy Secretariat of the Vice President, expert staff of the Ministry of National Development Planning/ National Development Planning Agency, representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. ***