The convening of the 20th National Sports Week (PON) is expected to increase Papua Province’s economic growth by up to 1.5 percent, according to Assistant for economic affairs and people’s welfare at the Provincial Secretariat of Papua, Muhammad Musaad.
“Bank Indonesia estimates that the implementation of the XX Papua PON effect will grow Papua economy by 1 to 1.5 percent. It means that there will be a real impact of the event,” he said here Tuesday.
He also informed that the local economy has also been encouraged through a number of exhibitions, such as the XX Papua PON Coffee Festival held in Jayapura city this month.
“Having more than seven thousand visitors here means that there is huge money circulation. Hence, the government has used this moment to help the local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs),” he explained.
The government has disbursed selling carts and tables to business actors, he noted. The assistance is expected to be useful even after the national sports event ends, he added.
In addition, the government has collaborated with Bank Indonesia and Bank Papua to provide soft loans of Rp10 million to each MSME without any interest as it will be borne by the government, Musaad said.
“Thus, we are not only striving for sports achievements but also developing the people’s economy amid the XX Papua PON,” he remarked. Due to the event, public facilities in Papua are getting better, such as through the establishment of a gallery which will display the works of Papuan youths, he pointed out.
“We are also trying to organize the businesses owned by Papuan women (locally called ‘mama-mama Papua’). In addition, we are preparing capital assistance – both in the form of money and goods – to be distributed to all of our MSMEs,” Musaad said.
To expedite MSME growth, the provincial government has established a working group for economic development, which is expected to help make small businesses grow, he added.
Furthermore, Musaad also hoped that XX Papua PON would have a continued impact due to the supporting infrastructure built for the event.
“After the XX Papua PON ends, we will create a report regarding the impact of the event on the development of Papua. It is important to let all people know about it,” he added.
Source: Antara News