JAYAPURA - The Papua Provincial Government together with Highland Papua Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the use of the Papua Pavilion at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) Jakarta.

The signing was related to the collaboration to promote cultural arts and MSME products of the two provinces, Saturday (2/3/2024), by the Acting Assistant 1 Regional Secretariat of Papua, Yohanis Walilo representing the Acting Governor of Papua with the Acting Governor of Highland Papua, Velix Vernando Wanggai.

"This memorandum of understanding includes assistance in maintaining the cultural infrastructure of Highland Papua at the TMII Papua Platform, especially the Silimo area (Honai complex)."

"Then also the optimization of the Papua Pavilion as a place to market MSME products from Highland Papua Province; The socio-cultural promotion of Highland Papua includes exhibition events, cultural attractions, and other cultural arts activities," explained Walilo in a release received by the editor on Sunday, when reading the governor's remarks.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Papua appreciated the initiative of the Highland Papua Provincial Government to utilize the Papua platform at TMII.

Moreover, it aims to develop and manage the cultural arts of Highland Papua, including MSME products.

"This shows that the expansion of Papua Province into several new regions is not a barrier to continuing to develop the land of Papua."

"This also shows that there is a common awareness that we must remain together in developing the land of Papua. This means that many provinces can be in the land of Papua, but our culture and art remain one," he explained.

Concluding his remarks, the Acting Governor of Papua invited other provinces to make the Papua Pavilion as central for the development and promotion of culture, art and MSMEs.

Head of the Papua Regional Liaison Agency in Jakarta, the person in charge of managing the Papua Platform at TMII, Alexander Kapisa, said that cooperation, as pioneered by Highland Papua Provincial Government, is very strategic because it will further strengthen the role of the Papua Pavilion in promoting and conveying all matters related to art, culture and MSME products.

"Of course, this Memorandum of Understanding is very good and supports us in managing this platform even better."

"There are many things that we can improve, both in terms of displaying cultural objects such as those in the Kariwari Museum, improving the landscape of the pavilion, especially in the Dani tribal house, and many more that we can do together," said Alexander Kapisa. ***