Indigenous Papuan women traders in Sorong Regency continue to face challenges in supporting their families due to high transportation costs, limited market access, and lack of business capital. Over 100 women traders, known as Mama-Mama Papua, gathered under the Sorong City Papuan Women Traders Association to address these issues with the Sorong Regency Government. The meeting highlighted the ongoing struggle of these women to access basic economic rights and the inadequacy of Special Autonomy funds in benefiting them.
Representatives from various villages expressed their concerns, such as the high transportation costs for reaching the market and the lack of strategic market locations. Mama Kesya Asrima shared the difficulties faced by traders from different districts, emphasizing the need for government support in providing transportation and business capital. Mama Mince Malibela and Mama Matseba Yadanfi also voiced similar concerns about competition for selling space, overnight stays at the market, and lack of affordable transport options.
In response to these challenges, the Regional Development Planning Agency of Sorong Regency plans to improve trading spaces and coordinate with provincial authorities to provide public transportation for traders. The Trade and Industry Office of Sorong Regency has been utilizing Special Autonomy funds to provide business facilities and tents to Papuan traders. There are also plans to include business capital assistance for women traders in the upcoming budget revision session.
Moving forward, P2MPKS facilitator Yohanis Mambrasar urged a more proactive approach in addressing the concerns of women traders to avoid prolonged wait times. The demands of Papuan women traders were formally submitted to the Koperindag Office, calling for financial assistance, cooperative savings and loan schemes, proper market spaces, basic trading facilities, and tailored transportation services.
This meeting, initiated by the Sorong Regency Government in response to a request from P2MPKS, aimed to address the issues faced by indigenous Papuan women traders in the region. As a platform for these traders, P2MPKS advocates for better support and resources to improve their livelihoods and economic opportunities.
