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1) Papua Military Chief Warns of Threat to Tuesday's Polls
Banjir Ambarita | January 28, 2013

Papua Armed Forces Chief Maj. Gen. Christian Zebua said on Monday that they have learned of plans to disrupt the provincial gubernatorial polls this week.

“There is a group that wants to disturb the Papua gubernatorial elections according to information gathered by the Papua Police intelligence and the Cendrawasih Military command. However, the identity of this group bent on undermining the process has not yet been identified,” Christian said.

The gubernatorial polls is set to take place on Tuesday.

Christian said that the group was an armed group of criminals, but did not give further details.

Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian also acknowledged the existence of the threat, but said police “will not be careless.”

Christian called on all parties, including the six candidates running in the elections, to work to safeguard security in the restive region.

“May all candidates work towards maintain a safe situation, and to be able to accept defeat or victory,” he said.

Christian vowed that the armed forces would remain 100 percent impartial in the elections.

He added that soldiers deployed under the coordination of the Papua Police to help maintain security during the election period would not hesitate to act against anyone or any groups intent on disrupting the elections.

Beny Suweni, the head of the Papua General Election Commission, said all logistical needs for the elections were scheduled to be delivered to all villages across the province by the end of Monday.

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/01/28/papua-hold-event-attract-investors.html

2) Papua to hold event to attract investors

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Archipelago | Mon, January 28 2013, 10:06 AM

Paper Edition | Page: 5

The Papua provincial administration will hold the Ekspose Papua exhibition in Jakarta in a bid to draw the interest of investors to do business in the province as well as showcase the achievements of 10 years of Papua’s special autonomy.

The exhibition will involve all provincial agencies (SKPD) and businesses in Papua, such as PT Freeport Indonesia, as well as all regency and city administrations, in a display of handicrafts and goods from Papua.

“The exhibition will be held on April 1-7 at the Jakarta Convention Center,” said interim Papua Governor Constant Karma in Jayapura recently.

He said Papua’s resources had yet to be tapped into fully, forcing the province to import goods from other provinces.

“With investments, much of the potential could be tapped into, creating job opportunities and improving economic growth,” he added.

“In Papua, we don’t have industries to produce the goods that we need. We even bring in eggs from outside. Why don’t we produce them in Papua? This will not only create jobs but will also lower prices.”

The expo will also display potential in the tourist industry as well as traditional arts and crafts, especially the multi-function bag noken.

”We will make a large noken and also bring a various types noken that have already been recognized as a part of world heritage,” Constant said.

In addition to seminars and business meetings, the expo will also feature Papuan batik and works of art, such as Asmat sculptures and various other traditional crafts.

Constant said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his ministers were expected to attend the event.

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http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/business/bosowa-eyes-cement-sales-in-papua-maluku/567503

3) Bosowa Eyes Cement Sales in Papua, Maluku
Muhamad Al Azhari | January 25, 2013

The Bosowa Corporation, a Makassar-based conglomerate with diversified businesses, held a ground-breaking ceremony on its cement-making facility in Sorong, West Papua, on Wednesday as the group seeks to tap growing demand for the building material in Indonesia’s east.

Erwin Aksa, Bosowa’s chief executive, said the building of the plant will involve construction companies from South Korea and China.

The cement plant is estimated to be valued at Rp 679 billion ($71 million).

Erwin said the plant, which will have the capacity the produce 750,000 tons of cement per year, will be 70 percent financed by loans and 30 percent by the group’s internal cash.

The plant will be operated by Bosowa subsidiary Bosowa Sorong, and the output will be sold to consumers in provinces in Papua and Maluku.

Erwin, the son of Bosowa founder H. Muhammad Aksa Mahmud, said the company has monitored cement consumption in the Papua and Maluku areas since 2005.

Erwin said cement consumption in the areas had risen, despite some volatility in 2009 and 2011.

“The rising trend is visible, with consumption rising to 790,000 tons in 2011 from 539,000 tons in 2005,” Erwin said.

Erwin, who is also a deputy chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), said the development gap between Indonesia’s west and east is the reason cement consumption in the east only represented a small portion of the national total.

Erwin said Bosowa’s market share in the fragmented Papua and Maluku markets is around 20 percent, second after Semen Tonasa, the dominant players. Semen Tonasa is a unit of Semen Indonesia, which also includes Semen Gresik as one of its elements.

Bosowa’s cement business, which contributes to around 60 percent of its total assets, is expected to lead the development charge among other businesses in the group. Erwin said the commodity is needed all over the nation, and the group is keen to meet that demand.

Bosowa operates two cement makers, Semen Bosowa Maros in Makassar and Batam-based Semen Bosowa Indonesia. The two plants between them produce 3.2 million tons per year.

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AWPA Sydney

Sunday, January 27, 2013