REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAYAPURA -- Papua New Guineans living in the border areas of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea depend on Indonesia to meet their need for staple commodities, a local official stated here on Thursday.

"They depend on Indonesia for nine staple commodities including rice, vegetable oil, eggs, and sugar," Head of Border Management Agency of Jayapura City Amos Solosa remarked.

According to Solosa, the high dependence of Papua New Guineans on Indonesia is apparent by the number of shoppers flocking to the market located in Skouw village, Muara Tami sub-district, Jayapura city, Papua province.

The market in Skouw village is different as compared to the other markets in the border areas of Indonesia, such as in Kalimantan, as foreign shoppers outnumber the locals at the market.

In the border areas of Kalimantan, large number of Indonesians depend on Malaysia, Solosa added.

"Papua New Guineans who shop at the Skouw market are predominantly from Vanimo, the closest city to the border with Indonesia. People from other regions also visit the market," Solosa remarked.

There is a huge potential to develop the markets in border areas, and hence, we have to guarantee the security of the businesspersons who want to invest in them.

"The border areas must be safe and secure to maintain the relations between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and is also important for the welfare of the people," Solosa emphasized.

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