RI-Australia infrastructure ties boosted<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Australia and Indonesia agreed yesterday to
\ninitiate a tangible program to boost infrastructure development
\nwhich would support national economic growth and regional
\ncooperation.<\/p>\n
At the closing of the Second Australia-Indonesia Ministerial
\nForum in Canberra yesterday, ministers from the two countries
\nagreed that, considering the important role of infrastructure, a
\nWorking Group to oversee its development would be established.<\/p>\n
In a joint statement, a copy of which was made available to
\nThe Jakarta Post, the ministers said that the Working Group on
\nInfrastructure would \"identify new opportunities and stimulate
\nnew activity in a range of infrastructure sectors.\"<\/p>\n
During the two-day meeting, the ministers also touched on the
\nlikelihood of combining the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations' Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the Australia-New Zealand
\nCloser Economic Relations (CER).<\/p>\n
The ministerial forum was initiated in 1992 by Australian
\nPrime Minister Paul Keating and Indonesian President Soeharto
\nduring the inaugural meeting in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Delegations<\/p>\n
The Australian delegation, led by Minister for Foreign Affairs
\nGareth Evans, comprises no less than nine government ministers,
\nincluding Deputy Prime Minister Brian Howe, Minister for
\nIndustry, Science and Technology Peter Cook and Minister for
\nPrimary Industries and Energy Bob Collins.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Industry and Trade Hartarto chaired
\nthe Indonesian delegation, which included Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Ali Alatas, Minister of Trade Satrio Budiardjo Joedono
\nand Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah.<\/p>\n
Elaborating on infrastructure development, the ministers said
\nthey agreed that the exact sectors would be identified by the
\nrelevant departments of the two countries but private
\nparticipation was crucial.<\/p>\n
In their statement, the ministers urged the quick and active
\nparticipation of the private sector to ensure the opportunities
\nin the development of infrastructure become concrete, commercial
\noutcomes.<\/p>\n
The role of the private sector was further highlighted when
\ntheir participation was identified as \"vital\" in producing
\nsubstantive results to the range of trade and economic programs
\nundertaken by the Ministerial Forum.<\/p>\n
Expounding further on other potential areas of bilateral
\ncooperation, the ministers revealed three electric power projects
\nhere which would be taken up as a matter of priority by the
\nIndonesian National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).<\/p>\n
Those projects are transmission and substations in South
\nKalimantan and West Sumatra, development of electrical
\ndistribution infrastructure in Sumatra and the development of a
\ntransmission project in East Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Though the general atmosphere of the meeting were described as
\npositive with discussions taking place in a constructive and
\npractical approach, Indonesia did raise concern over Australian
\nanti-dumping acts which adverse Indonesian exporters.<\/p>\n
Indonesia also expressed its concern at Australia's removal of
\nthe Developing Country Preferences (DCP) as well as the high
\nlevels of import duties on footwear, textiles and clothing.<\/p>\n
AFTA-CER<\/p>\n
Turning to a wider subject, the forum seriously discussed the
\nprospect of linking AFTA and the CER.<\/p>\n
Both AFTA and the CER are institutions which seek to promote
\nfree trade between their respective members.<\/p>\n
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups
\nThailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines and
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Though still in its exploratory stage, nevertheless the
\nministers agreed \"an AFTA-CER link merited further serious
\nconsideration.\"<\/p>\n
The ministers felt that, in general, the Asia-Pacific region
\nwas in a fluid situation and, therefore, they stressed the
\nimportance of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in fostering mutual
\nconfidence amongst countries.<\/p>\n
The ARF is a regional dialog sponsored by ASEAN which involves
\nseveral Asia-Pacific countries including the United States,
\nAustralia and Japan.<\/p>\n
Harassment<\/p>\n
The amiable mood that had existed throughout the meeting was
\ninterrupted when Alatas complained about the harassment that
\nIndonesian embassy and consulate staff were being subjected to.<\/p>\n
Embassy and consulate staff are often exposed to various
\nattacks by anti-Indonesian groups opposing the integration of
\nEast Timor into the Republic of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Gareth Evans brought up the issue
\nof East Timor calling for greater autonomy and a withdrawal of
\ntroops in Indonesia's youngest province.<\/p>\n
As reported by AFP, a clearly angry Alatas revealed yesterday
\nthat he had urged his counterpart to insure the protection of
\nIndonesian staff there against such attacks.<\/p>\n
\"These don't happen in other countries because, while freedom
\nof expression is fully honored, there are ways of arranging
\nthings, channeling things,\" Alatas criticized.(mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-australia-infrastructure-ties-boosted-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}