On Monday, October 24, 2022, At 2:32 PM, Indonesia And Papua New Guinea’s Pos Lintas Batas Negara (PLBN) Or Cross-Border Service Was Officially Reopened.
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COVID-19 stroke many aspects of life, not to mention the economy and infrastructure in West Papua. Due to the pandemic, the local government decided to close the entrance gate to the border between the Republic of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Thankfully, in October 2022, the Indonesia and Papua New Guinea’s border gate was reopened for goods. Let’s find out more.
Reopened After Being Closed for 2-Year
In October this year, the Indonesia and Papua New Guinea’s Pos Lintas Batas Negara (PLBN) or Cross-Border Post in Jayapura, West Papua has been reopened after being shut down for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The provincial government of Papua wishes there are no longer activities or mobility for the residents who cross the unofficial track or short-cut road.
It was delivered by the Head of the Papua Provincial Government Border Management and Cooperation Agency, Suzanna Wanggai, in late October. She stated that the reopening is hoped to stop the activities on unauthorized short-cut roads.
Suzanna also hoped that reopening the Skouw (Indonesia) and Wutung (Papua New Guinea) Cross-Border Post would turn community activities back to normal. The economy of both regions can return to stable as before the pandemic hit.
On Monday, October 24, 2022, at 2:32 PM, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea’s Pos Lintas Batas Negara (PLBN), or Cross-Border service, was officially back on business.
Repatriation of Indonesian Migrant Workers
Meanwhile, the administrator of Skouw’s PLBN, Yan Numberi, revealed that Papua New Guinea closed the border gate in 2020 because of the thrilling case number of COVID-19. Indonesia, in the meantime, opened the Skouw PBLN on May 18.
Yan later added that the reopening of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea cross border, which connects Skouw (Indonesia) and Wutung (PNG), assists residents of the two countries. They can now cross the border by fulfilling the applied provisions in both countries.
Afterward, Yan admitted that even though the cross border was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their parties opened the border several times. The gate was opened especially during the time of repatriation of Indonesian migrant workers through Vanimo.
Yan Numberi disclosed, as quoted by detik.com, that more than a hundred people were crossing Skouw PLBN when the border between the two countries was closed. They opened the gate only for the workers’ return.
One of a merchant in the Skouw market, Agus, was thrilled by the cross-border gate’s reopening. He revealed that all the merchants had been affected by the pandemic and the closing of the border gate.
Saying that most of his customers were from the neighboring country, Agus claimed the border gate closing decreased his income drastically. That is why he was thrilled and excited to learn the Indonesia and Papua New Guinea’s border gate was reopened.
Skouw PLBN Revives Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Border Economy
Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum dan Perumahan Rakyat (PUPR), or The Ministry of Public Works and Housing, finished the construction of a support facility in Skouw PLBN located in Muara Tami District, Jayapura City, West Papua.
The infrastructure support of this Sub-Core Zone is part of the development of the PLBN Core Zone, which was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo in 2017. PUPR minister, Basuki Hadimuljono, said that the Skouw’s border continual development was based on the President’s instruction to support social economy activities in the border gate’s area as the front porch of Indonesia.
This border zone is not only Indonesia’s pride but also plays an important role as the safety defense and a new economic growth center in the border area of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Hopefully, the infrastructure and economic growth in West Papua will increase with the reopening of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea’s Pos Lintas Batas Negara (PLBN) or Cross-Border service.
