Indonesian official commends re-opening of border post

Business

THE opening of Batas at Wutung border post in Vanimo, West Sepik, has triggered an increase in economic activities within the impact communities, says an official.
Indonesian consul-general in Vanimo, Allen Simarmata, said people in the impact areas on both sides of the border depend entirely on trade that occurred at Batas.
“Since the re-opening of Wutung Border Post on Oct 24, trade between Indonesia and PNG, especially by the immediate communities living in the Skouw-Wutung border area, is rapidly coming back to normal after the Coronavirus pandemic situation,” Simarmata told The National yesterday.
“As you might know, the peoples of both countries at Batas and the border area depend on the opening of both Skouw and Wutung border post not only to do trade or buying and selling goods but also the livelihood of subsistence farmers to work on land situated on either side.
“People living along West Coast and Vanimo can come to Skouw market to buy household goods and Skouw communities as well as other Indonesians can buy agricultural products of PNG such as vanilla, choco, pinang, vegetables and fruits and others products.
“Not only the immediate communities at the border and other areas, but companies that had investments in the West Sepik province such as supermarket now have been seen ordering goods and products from Indonesia through Skouw-Wutung border in order to support their daily operations.
“This also proves that the Skouw-Wutung border is very important in sustaining the economic development of West Sepik.”
He said citizens of both countries as well as international visitors could pass through either side of the border post provided they had their travel documents.
“Since the border was opened, we have seen the economic activity of the people along the border growing such as street vendors and small and medium enterprises.”
Simarmata welcomed the opening of the border post and the restoration of the flow of goods and people of Indonesia and PNG through the Skouw-Wutung border.
“This is the realisation of Prime Minister James Marape’s vision and commitment to make the border area a gateway for PNG’s products to Asia, and it is also Indonesia’s gateway to the Pacific region,” he said.
“This aligned vision of both countries will be the sign that our shared, common border will be vibrant and active for the betterment of both countries.”