REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAYAPURA -- State enterprises minister Rini Soemarno said here on Saturday that her office continues to develop various kinds of products made from sago, found in abundance in Papua.
"We continue developing various kinds of sago-based products in cooperation with the Agency of Technology Assessment and Application (BPPT) and PT Bharata. We are also working to develop sago processing machinery so that people could buy it at an affordable price," she said during a visit to an exhibition stand displaying processed products made from sago.
She said she hoped products developed in this fashion give added value to those in the micro-business community.
In 2016, she stated, the government would allocate Rp600 billion to help 15,000 micro-and small business people develop their businesses.
A BPPT researcher, Purwa Tri Cahyana, speaking at a separate occasion, explained that BPPT is currently cooperating with the Waena sago processing center led by DR Made to continue innovating and has created several sago-based products.
One such product is sago-based rice, he said, adding that local people now consume more rice than sago, and that he hoped once sago-based rice becomes available, people would again like to consume sago in a different form.
"Further research is still needed to make the product more attractive," he said.
Minister Rini Soemarno was in Papua, accompanying President Joko Widodo during his visit to the eastern region.
President Joko Widodo on Saturday conducted the ground-breaking ceremony of Mama-Mama cultural market in Jayapura, the capital of Papua province.
To be built on a 4-thousand-square meter plot of land in Jayapura city center, the market is expected to support local economic development.
After the ground-breaking ceremony, President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana proceeded to Depapre Port in Jayapura district.
President Joko Widodo inaugurated the Depapre Port at Jayapura district as one of the sea toll ways in East Indonesia.
"This will be a great sea port and will be interconnected with the medium and small port hub," the President said.
President Joko Widodo came to Papua after visiting Bima in West Nusa Tenggara on Friday where he also inaugurated the Amahami market.
The President arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma airport in Jakarta on Saturday evening.
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