Encouragement on Timor Leste-Indonesia Economic Cooperation

Kupang, Indonesia (News Today) - The application of Border Crossing Passes (PLB) is expected to boost bilateral economic cooperation between Indonesia and Timor Leste. It is also expected to revive the traditional markets in the border regions and develop the peaceful zones as recommended in the report of the Indonesia-Timor Lesta commission of truth and friendship, Deputy Belu Regent Ludovikus Taolin said here on Thursday.

The hope and encouragement apply to all circles of local, national and international communities, to increase the purchasing power of people in the border areas, he said. He had been contacted in view of the signing and launching of the PLB by Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa representing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Foreign Minister Zakarian Albano da Costa representing President Ramos Horta in Batugede (Timor Leste) and Mota’ain (Indonesia), some 80 kilometers east of Atambua on Wednesday.

He said the traditional markets which had not been functioning properly, due to the application of PLB, are expected to be revived both under bilateral cooperation and in the form of money exchanges, exchanges of goods and services between the peoples of the two countries living the border regions. He mentioned a number of traditional markets in Belu regency, East Nusa Tenggara, bordering with Timor Leste, had not been used properly in the last seven years.

"Since they were built by the central government in 2003, the border markets in Mota’ain (Indonesia)- Batugade (Timor Leste), Metamauk-Salele, Builalo-Memo, Haekesak-Turiskain, Laktutus-Belulik Leten, were still operating at a loss," he said.

The wasteful markets between the countries were caused by a number of internal and external factors of the managers of the two countries like relating to security, the technical requirement of the issuance of border crossing passes from Timor Leste which had not been prepared.

"Now a number of internal and external factors had been overcome by the application of the PLB and the waiting of the people in the Indonesia-Timor Leste border regions came to an end, and they can now pass through a number of border gates declared by the two sides in 2003," he said.

Earlier, Foreign Minister of Timor Leste Zacarias Albano da Costa in his political statement said that the application of the PLB is a positive step for the advancement of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in many sectors.

In the meantime, Foreign Minister M Marty Natalegawa said that the form of cooperation starting in the use of the border crossing passes is aimed at increasing the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Timor Leste.

Natalegawa also said that the PLB was also aimed at promoting the relations between former Timor Timur residents who have decided to become Indonesian citizens and stay in Indonesia, and for Timor Leste citizens for exchanges of visits.

Source : kompas

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