Indonesia continues to demonstrate its commitment to closer ties with Pacific island nations. Following the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ declaration of Pacific Elevation in 2019 and and organized the International Forum for Development Partnership (IPFD) in Bali in 2022, Indonesia continues to develop several development cooperation programs in Pacific countries. Pacific countries are increasingly positioned as priority partners in Indonesia’s international development cooperation.
The implementation of these development cooperation programs receives funding support from the International Development Cooperation Fund (LDKPI). These activities are carried out both bilaterally and through regional organizations such as the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
Some examples of this cooperation are presented here.
In 2023, Indonesia provided training to support the development of the broiler chicken farming sector in the Solomon Islands. This broiler chicken cultivation training absorbed funds of 2.4 billion rupiah. A similar activity was carried out in 2024, with funds reaching 2.7 billion rupiah. In the Solomon Islands, Indonesia also assisted in increasing the capacity of tilapia and seaweed cultivation by sending Indonesian experts to the Solomon Islands. The funds allocated reached over 1.2 billion rupiah.
In 2024, Indonesia allocated approximately 6 billion rupiah to support disaster waste management in Vanuatu. Indonesia also supported a program to increase the capacity of healthcare workers in the nursing sector in that country with a budget of 1.2 billion rupiah.
Bilateral cooperation is specifically implemented with Papua New Guinea. In 2023, the Government conducted a feasibility study for the detailed design engineering of Port Moresby General Hospital in Papua New Guinea, with a budget of 1.48 billion rupiah. The following year, Indonesia modernized the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Mortuary Room at Port Moresby General Hospital, with a budget of 4.8 billion rupiah. Indonesia also implemented the West Sepik Integrated Development Program Phase I in Papua, with a budget of 5 billion rupiah.
Cooperation implemented through the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) includes training in coastal relations and capacity building for young diplomats from MSG countries. Indonesia provided coastal fisheries training to Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) member states with funding of over IDR 654 million in 2022. In 2023, advanced coastal fisheries training was provided to Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) member states with funding of approximately IDR 1 billion.
A capacity building program for young diplomats from MSG member states was implemented in 2024 with funding of over IDR 914 million. Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu participated in the capacity building program and training.
In addition to training programs, Indonesia also supports the strengthening of regional organizations such as the MSG. Indonesia provided a vehicle grant to support the operations of the MSG Secretariat with funding of over IDR 1.6 billion in 2023.
Examples of Indonesia’s Development Program in the Pacific
| No | State | Program | Budget (Rp.) |
| 1 | Fiji | Preliminary Study of Regional Training Center Development Plan at Dobolievu Research Station (2023) | 3,078,343,325 |
| 2 | Solomon Island | Broiler Chicken Cultivation Training (2022) | 2,407,999,231. |
| Broiler Chicken Cultivation Training (2024) | 2,732,398,570 | ||
| Building the capacity of tilapia and seaweed cultivation (2024) | 1,266,374,642. | ||
| 3 | Vanuatu | Disaster waste management in Vanuatu (2024) | 6,028,413,010 |
| Health worker capacity building program in the nursing field (2024) | 1,220,570,056 | ||
| 4 | New Guinea | Feasibility Study for Detailed Design Engineering of Port Moresby General Hospital (2023) | 1,489,235,859. |
| Modernization of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Mortuary Room at Port Moresby General Hospital (2024) | 4,898,877,200 | ||
| West Sepik Integrated Development Program Phase I (2024) | 5,001,631,813 | ||
| 5 | Members of MSG | Training in coastal fisheries (2022) | 654,595,371 |
| Advanced training in coastal fisheries (2023) | 1,020,815,345 | ||
| The Capacity Building Program and Training for Diplomats. The Program was attended by Diplomats representing Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu (2024) | 914,677,539 | ||
| 6 | MSG Secretariat | Vehicle Grant to Support MSG Secretariat Operations (2023) | 1,625,716,508 |
Source: Compiled from the Financial Report of the Public Service Agency (LDKPI) for Fiscal Years 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Beyond bilateral and regional activities, Indonesia also involves representatives from Pacific countries in training sessions involving participants from the wider region. One such training activity was the Passenger Assessment Workshop for Asia/Pacific Customs Administration Officers, held in October 2022. Representatives from Papua New Guinea and Fiji participated in the event, along with representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste.
In the future, Indonesia will implement many more programs to support development in Pacific countries. Indonesia plans to develop a regional training center at the Dobolievu Research Station in Rakiraki, Fiji. In 2023, a preliminary study was conducted regarding the establishment of an agricultural training and demonstration center, with funding reaching over 3 billion rupiah.
PACIS specifically supports Indonesia’s efforts to engage with the Pacific. In 2024, the PACIS Team contributed to the development of a public text accompanying the Grand Design of Indonesia’s Pacific Policy Strategy (GDSKPE/Pacific Elevation). In 2025, PACIS was also involved in the development of the Roadmap for Strengthening Development Partnerships in the Pacific, which serves as strategic guidance for Indonesia’s foreign policy specifically in the Pacific region.
Author: YP Hermawan
Primary reference:
https://ldkpi.kemenkeu.go.id
