The Central Statistics Agency in West Papua states that Papua’s inflation rate is fluctuating. However, a few days before Eid al Fitr, the inflation rate in this region is 4.42%. It is considered good news because this number is still lower than the national inflation rate.
The acting governor of Papua, Muhammad Ridwan, stated that Papua’s inflation rate is below the national level. For your information, currently, Indonesia’s inflation rate is reaching 4.97%.
Last year, the inflation rate in Papua was 4.15%. Meanwhile, the national inflation rate was 5.71%. The inflation rate and consumer index price increase in Papua are still reasonable. It is because Indonesia is welcoming Eid al Fitr, a Muslim’s greatest holiday.
Controlling Inflation in Papua
Even though the inflation rate is low, the acting governor asked all parties to be alert. So, the government and other related parties can work together to maintain and decrease the inflation rate.
What is the effective action to control Papua’s inflation rate? The government has taken several actions. For instance, the government always monitors the price of commodities. Additionally, they always ensure that the supplies are available.
Furthermore, the provincial government regularly meets TPID or Regional Inflation Control Team. The main duty of TPID is to check and monitor the supply of basic commodities such as rice, sugar, and cooking oil in the market.
That is why TPID often conducts inspections in Papua’s traditional and modern markets. This inspection can prevent price surging and commodity hoarding.
We all know that some distributors sometimes hoard goods to gain a lot of profit. When the supply is limited, and the demand is high, the price of goods will be more and more expensive. So, TPID wants to prevent this issue by conducting market inspections regularly.
Furthermore, TPID always ensures that the distribution process from the commodity-producing areas to consumers is smooth. This action is also crucial to ensure the stability of commodity prices in Papua.
When all parties can work together to maintain the supply, the price of basic commodities will be steady. Besides, the inflation rate in West Papua can be maintained well.
Recently, TPID Papua has just inspected some markets in Papua. The leader of this inspection was Suzana Wanggai, the Acting assistant for the Economy and People’s Welfare in Papua.
The final result of this inspection is satisfying. TPID finds that the supply of basic commodities is sufficient for the stock after Eid al Fitr.
Problems in Maintaining Inflation Rate
Actually, Papua faces some issues regarding maintaining the inflation rate to sustain its economic stability. One of the main challenges is improving the infrastructure in the region. The lack of proper infrastructure has hindered the development of many sectors in Papua.
This issue makes it challenging to connect remote communities to the market. Besides, it requires cooperation with other provinces to maintain the availability of the commodities. It is because West Papua is not a commodity-producing region.
This province relies on other regions, such as North and South Sulawesi, to supply some basic commodities. When the government can overcome these challenges, it will be easier to maintain the West Papua inflation rate.
The smooth distribution process between producers and customers can ensure lower prices of commodities. As a result, the inflation rate will be under control.
Maintaining the inflation rate becomes a challenge for all regions in Indonesia. But, Papua is successful in controlling the commodity price and inflation rate.
This province focuses on inspecting the market directly. Besides, the cooperation between the provincial government, TPID, and all traders makes it easier to maintain Papua’s inflation rate. While some challenges still need to be addressed, Papua’s prospects for continued growth and development are promising.
