West Papua Courts Chinese Investors for IDR 7 Trillion Rendani Airport Expansion

RRI.CO.ID, Manokwari - The West Papua Provincial Administration is looking toward international partnerships to revitalize its regional infrastructure, specifically offering the Rendani Airport development project in Manokwari to Chinese investors. The move aims to accelerate regional connectivity and stimulate economic growth that has been hampered by project delays over the past few years.

Governor of West Papua, Dominggus Mandacan, confirmed that the proposal was formally presented during a high-level meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. "Yesterday, we met with investors from China in Jakarta to offer investment potential," he said in a press release on Friday, April 10, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The Rendani Airport expansion is a priority program designed to modernize the province's primary aviation hub through several critical upgrades. To accommodate larger aircraft, the development focuses on a runway extension that will increase the total length to 2,500 meters.

The project also includes significant terminal upgrades, such as the installation of three aerobridges and other supporting infrastructure to enhance passenger comfort. Ultimately, these improvements will transform the airport into a robust logistics hub, improving the capacity for flight services to support the seamless distribution of goods and the steady flow of investment into West Papua.

"The development of Rendani Airport is very important to strengthen connectivity, support investment flows, and logistics distribution in West Papua," Dominggus remarked.

Beyond the airport expansion, which has already attracted an initial interest of approximately IDR 7 trillion (USD 409 million) from Chinese state-owned enterprises, the Governor highlighted several other strategic sectors for development. In the realm of energy and industry, the province is offering untapped oil and gas blocks slated for auction alongside the innovative development of cassava-based ethanol industries.

The administration is also prioritizing the marine and fisheries sector by proposing the construction of advanced cold storage facilities to facilitate direct fish exports to Shanghai.

Furthermore, the collaboration extends to technology and the environment, with potential partnerships focused on satellite-based telecommunications and sustainable waste management systems to modernize the province's infrastructure.

The partnership is expected to deepen during a regional economic forum in Shanghai in May 2026, where West Papua will present formal proposals for these priority projects. With the assistance of the Doreka Foundation acting as a liaison, the province aims to turn these discussions into concrete strategic cooperation that bridges the gap between West Papuan resources and Chinese capital.

The West Papua provincial administration has been asked to prepare priority project proposals, with a specific focus on the aviation and telecommunications sectors to streamline future negotiations. This initiative is part of a larger push to open up access to foreign investors for projects that have faced years of delay.

Furthermore, both parties have agreed to continue their discussions at a regional economic forum in Shanghai scheduled for next month. By promoting the region's investment potential on a global stage, the government hopes to secure the strategic cooperation necessary to modernize the province’s infrastructure and economy. ***