Indonesia-PNG Border Trade Fair to feature 66 small businesses

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Sixty-six micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from Indonesia's Papua province and Papua New Guinea's (PNG) West Sepik province will participate in an upcoming Border Trade Fair aimed at boosting bilateral commerce.Scheduled for October 8 to 10, the event will take place in the neutral zone situated about 200 meters from the Skouw cross-border post in Jayapura City, Papua. The fair will feature a wide array of products, ranging from local handicrafts to electronic goods.

Head of Papua Border Agency Triwarno told ANTARA here on Tuesday that the exhibition booths will host business owners from both neighboring countries.

The fair serves as a strategic platform for Indonesian entrepreneurs, particularly those in Jayapura and its surrounding areas, to introduce their goods to the PNG market.

"Export opportunities to PNG remain highly promising, especially since the territories share a direct border, which minimizes transportation costs," Triwarno said.

He noted that Indonesia's Jayapura city and Keerom district share direct land borders with PNG, presenting vast export potential.

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Beyond product showcases, the event will facilitate business-to-business meetings to help Indonesian enterprises seize commercial opportunities in PNG.

These networking efforts align with a continuous increase in cross-border trade. According to the Jayapura Customs and Excise Office, the export value to PNG through the Skouw Border Post alone has currently reached Rp60 billion (approximately US$3.35 million), Triwarno added.

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Data from Indonesia’s Trade Ministry shows that the Papua Province recorded $93.5 million in total exports in 2025, and $42.8 million from January to August 2026.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s total national exports to Papua New Guinea reached $249.1 million in 2025 and $211.9 million in the first eight months of 2026.