Frontier Markets

Security in border areas can be created through prosperity. The role of markets and traders, therefore, are seen to be vital and strategic. Small-scale economic activities in Indonesia’s boundaries are flourishing at Skow, in Papua province, across from Papua New Guinea; at Mota’ain between East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province and Timor Leste; and Sebatik town in Kalimantan, which shares a boundary with Malaysia. Yet, these commercial centers are fraught with problems, among them an ongoing consumer goods price war and a foreign currency black market. They have caught the government’s attention, which plans to include them in its overall market revitalization plan. Tempo English Edition reports from Papua, Kalimantan and NTT.