Jayapura – Papua once again proves its strength on the national stage as the Bank Indonesia Papua Representative Office brings the region’s top small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate in the prestigious Karya Kreatif Indonesia (KKI) 2025, held in Jakarta from August 7 to 10, 2025. Their presence goes beyond showcasing products—it is a statement that Papua’s creative economy has the potential to compete in global markets.
Since its inception in 2016, KKI has served as a strategic platform to promote regional excellence in textiles, crafts, coffee, culinary products, and sustainable innovations. This year, the event carries the theme “Synergy and Innovation: The Key to Strengthening SMEs as the Drivers of a Sustainable Economy.”
Acting Head of Bank Indonesia Papua, David Sipahutar, stated that four Papua-based SMEs are participating onsite at KKI 2025: Ki. Basic (noken handicrafts), Noken Clothing (fashion), Sambal Baba (culinary), and Kakao Kita Papua (cocoa-based products). In addition, Koperasi Produsen Emas Hijau Papua is featuring its premium Arabica coffee, while Batik Mamayoo presents unique Papua-inspired motifs using both hand-drawn and stamped batik techniques.
Eighteen other Papua SMEs, including Ririens Food, Basyira Cookies, and Galeri Kreatif Kehutanan, are joining via the KKI Digital platform. All participating businesses have undergone rigorous selection by professional curators.
“The presence of Papua’s SMEs at this event proves that our local potential is second to none. We aim to expand markets while positioning Papua as a creative economy hub that is ready to go global,” David said on Friday (August 8, 2025).
A key highlight of KKI 2025 is the business matching session for export commodities, where Papua’s Arabica coffee and specialty food products have drawn strong interest from potential buyers in Japan, Malaysia, China, the United States, and Australia. These meetings are expected to open new export channels, reinforcing Papua’s standing as a competitive global player while staying true to its local identity.
In line with the push for digital transformation, Papua’s SMEs are also adopting the QRIS Tap payment system, which integrates Indonesia’s national QR code standard with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. This allows customers to make payments simply by tapping their phone, streamlining transactions and increasing efficiency.
David emphasized that this participation is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Papua’s economic resilience. By combining cultural heritage, technological innovation, and global market orientation, Papua’s SMEs are poised to become key drivers of an economy that is not only resilient in the face of challenges but also competitive on the world stage.
“Papua’s wealth of natural resources and cultural uniqueness, when paired with innovation, can produce truly world-class products. This is not just a dream—it’s a process we are already building,” he concluded.
