Indonesia Entrepreneurs Association Promotes Smelter Construction in Papua

Jayapura, Papua (Antara) - The Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) is promoting Papua provincial administration\'s program to build a smelter in Mimika district, Papua, Bahlil Lahadilia, the association\'s chairman, stated here on Thursday. \"The smelter must be built in Papua. We are seeking investors to support this plan,\" he noted. According to Bahlil, the construction of a smelter in Papua is important as the easternmost region of Indonesia would be able to attract investment and contribute to the country\'s development. \"The economic development of Indonesia should not be centered in only one region but should be equally distributed,\" Bahlil said, adding that a strong political will from the government is needed to realize the development distribution. The natural resources exploited in one area should be processed in the same area where they are found, he remarked. For instance, the metal ores exploited by Freeport Indonesia in Tembagapura and the surrounding areas should be processed in Papua. \"During this time, only 30 percent of the concentrates are processed in Gresik, East Java. The rest of them are processed abroad,\" Bahlil pointed out. \"As major costs are involved in constructing a smelter, therefore we should support and help the administration to seek investors in order to realize this plan,\" he added.(*)