
PT Sari Coffee Indonesia, the retailer company holder for Starbucks Indonesia will be opening its initial two stores in Papua after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two major shopping Centres in West Papua. This expansion of the business will be marked with the opening store in correspondence with the celebration of the country’s biggest multiple sports event, Pekan Olah Raga Nasional (PON) this summer.
Starbucks Indonesia has announced the partnership with Diana Mall and Jayapura, witnessed by high-level participants on the side lines of the Green Investment for Papua and West Papua Forum to secure the commitment to the sustainable economy in the province that is still considered far behind in comparison to other developing regencies in Indonesia.
Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs were witnessing the Starbucks announcement, along with Bahlil Lahadalia (Head of Capital Investment Coordinating Board or BKPM), Dominggus Mandacan (Governor of West Papua), Klemen Tinal (Deputy Governor of Papua) and Paul Polman (representative of the International Chambers of Commerce) during the event in late February.
The CEO of PT Sari Coffee Indonesia, Anthony Cottan is enthusiastic to be taking Starbucks to its 33rd and 34th Indonesian cities in Papua that will be ensured of inclusivity and accessibility to all customers. “We will not only give chance for people to have the Starbucks Experience but provide jobs for local Papuans, raise awareness of specialty coffee, and show support of the government’s determination to accelerate development in Papua,” Cottan said according to the release.
As per their plan, Starbucks Indonesia plans to open in August this year, in time for the pinnacle of PON in October. In the last few years, the opening of Starbucks in other cities in Indonesia has successfully boosted the prospect of the local coffee business. The business decision to extend the retail in Papua wishes to have a similar outcome that has a multiplier effect especially in introducing Papua coffee to the world. Caffeine lovers in some big cities have tasted Papua coffee, on the other hand, the local industry isn’t ready yet to market the better quality of the product.
The opening of Starbucks at two shopping centres in Papua is a response to the increase in the living quality of locals. “Starbucks will thankfully open at Diana Mall, where the people here are ready for more international lifestyle brands and we are pleased to welcome Starbucks first store in Diana Mall,” said Steven Tan, owner of Diana Mall in Timika.
In the capital city of Papua, coffee lovers will welcome Starbucks in Jayapura Mall where communities have been waiting for the coffee brand to have its own store in the province. “Our customers in Jayapura Mall often travel and always ask when Starbucks will open in their city – finally their requests have been answered, we are delighted to host Starbucks in our mall and be the pioneer to introduce the best brands,” said Johannes Willem Makatita as a representative of Jayapura Mall.