Russian government this year (2020) awarded scholarships to 10 Indigenous Papuan students (OAP) and is ready to facilitate them continuing their studies to increase human resources in the fields of pharmacy, research and laboratory.

The Russian government wants Papuans to join forces with Russian researchers to conduct joint research to create the vaccines that the world needs today such as the Coronavirus vaccine (Covid-19) and others.

This was expressed by Vitaly Glinkin, Director of the Russian Center for Culture and Science (PKR) of the Russian Embassy to Indonesia during a meeting with the Papuan Provincial Government represented by the Head of the Papua Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) Aryoko AF Rumaropen,SP. M.Eng and Elius Enembe,S.Kep.MM, Head of Human Resources Development Affirmation BPSDM Papua, Thursday (Sept. 10, 2020), at the Russian Embassy Office Jakarta, 

"We hope that the cooperation of the Russian Government and the Papuan Provincial Government can facilitate Papuan youth to continue their studies and research in the field of Pharmaceuticals and Laboratories so that they can join with Russian researchers to create the vaccines the world needs," Vitaly said.

Glinkin said the education and human resources development cooperation between the Russian Government and the Papua Government was very good. From 2016 to 2019, the Russian Government provided special scholarships for Papuan students to continue their studies there.

"I would like to thank the Papuan Government for giving us the confidence to educate Papuan children in Russia. I would like to meet directly with the governor and deputy governor in Jayapura Papua," he said.

In the same place, the Head of BPSDM Papua Province, Aryoko AF Rumaropen,SP. M.Eng on behalf of the governor and deputy governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe,SIP. MH and Klemen Tinal,SE.MM expressed his appreciation to the Russian Government which is committed to assisting the development of Papuan human resources.

"The governor and deputy governor of Papua expressed his great appreciation to the Russian Government who accepted and gave trust to the Papuan children continuing to study in Russia," he said.

According to Aryoko, the Governor and Deputy Governor of Papua thanked the Russian Government for distributing scholarship assistance to OAP students.

In 2019, a total of 26 Papuan students were sent to Russia and 14 of them received scholarships from the Russian Government. And in 2020, there are 10 OAP students who will be awarded scholarships.