Minister Masduki inaugurates people’s market in Papua’s Biak Numfor

Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Teten Masduki on Tuesday inaugurated the revitalized Fandoi People’s Market in Biak Numfor district, Papua province.

During the inauguration ceremony, he appealed to business actors at the people’s market to take part in preserving environmental cleanliness in the hope of attracting local residents.

“I hope that mamas here will display their products more happily. The revitalization of this people’s market should not stop at physical construction,” he added.

He also expressed the hope that a cooperative would manage the Fandoi People’s Market in a better manner.

“This people’s market requires revitalization not only in terms of its physical structure, but also its management. That way, Papuan mamas at this market will have access to products supplied by fishermen, farmers, craftsmen, and others,” he stated.

He added that revitalization is expected to boost the income of Papua’s indigenous people

The minister further said that people’s markets and traditional markets must have the capacity to compete with modern retail markets and supermarkets.

He also expressed the hope that merchants at the people’s market would be able to get financing from banks in the district.

“I learned that banks have been facilitating the distribution of KUR (people’s business credit) in Biak Numfor,” he added.

On the occasion, Minister Masduki also participated in the distribution of business capital aid to local merchants.

Meanwhile, head of the Biak Numfor Cooperative Office, Eveline Wambrauw, revealed that a budget of over Rp1 billion (US$62.2 thousand) was provided by the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (Kop UKM) in 2023 for revitalizing the market.

“Today, indigenous Papuan merchants and the Biak Numfor district government gladly thank the Kop UKM Ministry for developing (revitalizing) and inaugurating this people’s market,” she said.

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