REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAYAPURA -- Regions in Indonesia that share a border with Papua New Guinea have significant economic potentials, Head of Border and Foreign Cooperation of Papua Susana Dweijana Wanggai said here on Saturday (10/5).

She added that the easternmost areas of the province are Indonesia's front-most regions that have considerable economic potentials in both land and sea sectors.

"The maritime potentials include fisheries products such as sea cucumber, sharks, snappers, and a number of other marine animals," Wanggai stated.

In addition, land potentials in Papua include mining and medical plants such as Pandanus conoideus, locally known as buah merah.

"These potentials can be found in central mountainous areas of Papua. They have high economic value that should be explored and managed to improve the welfare of the community," Wanggai emphasized.

However, these economic potentials may become a source of conflicts, she added.

She believes that one of the challenges posed in the exploitation of natural resources is that the fishermen in the region do not understand the places in Indonesia that share a border with neighboring countries. This lack of understanding prevails despite being equipped with GPS (global positioning system) services.

"We should disseminate information on the regulation on cross-border areas to communities of both countries," Wanggai noted.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika