West Sumatra to enter two growth triangles<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto wants to include West Sumatra
\nin two sub-regional cooperation areas, involving Singapore,
\nMalaysia and Thailand, to spur economic growth in the province,
\nCoordinating Minister of Industry and Trade Hartarto says.<\/p>\n
After reporting to President Soeharto on the development of
\nsub-regional cooperation, Hartarto told journalists yesterday
\nthat the president decided to include West Sumatra given the
\nplan's potency.<\/p>\n
\"It surely will propel economic growth in West Sumatra
\nbecause, even though it is not yet included in any of sub-
\nregional cooperation areas, a number of investors from Johore of
\nMalaysia have entered this province,\" Hartarto said.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, along with Malaysia's Minister of
\nInternational Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz and Singapore
\nDeputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Hartarto signed a pact to
\nformalize a growth triangle, encompassing Singapore, Johore and
\nRiau province, to boost cross-border economic ties.<\/p>\n
However, in the next ministerial meeting in Pekanbaru, Riau,
\nin February 1995, Indonesia will include West Sumatra in the
\nIndonesia-Malaysia-Singapore Growth Triangle (IMS-GT), Hartarto
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In addition to IMS-GT, Hartarto noted, President Soeharto also
\ndecided to include West Sumatra in the Indonesia-Malaysia-
\nThailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT). Therefore, in the part of
\nIndonesia, the IMT-GT will cover not only North Sumatra and Aceh,
\nbut also West Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Benefits<\/p>\n
According to a feasibility study conducted by the Asian
\nDevelopment Bank, the northern part of Sumatra will benefit the
\nmost from the IMT-GT.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, we have to take immediate action to accommodate
\nthe benefits of cooperation in various sectors, such as those in
\nagriculture, especially in plantations, and the electronic
\nindustry, between Penang in Malaysia, and Belawan in North
\nSumatra,\" Hartarto said.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have also agreed to
\nlink their areas by opening new air routes to spur tourism.<\/p>\n
In this sector, the inclusion of West Sumatra will give more
\nbenefits as it has many tourist attractions, such as the Dutch-
\nstyle town Bukittinggi with its canyon, old Batusangkar with its
\nmuseum, Padang Bay and many more picturesque destinations, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Hartarto yesterday also reported to President Soeharto about
\nthe development of the eastern growth cooperation area, involving
\nBrunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Indonesia
\nincorporates West and East Kalimantan as well as North Sulawesi
\nin this cooperation area.<\/p>\n
In a ministerial meeting in Manado, North Sulawesi, earlier
\nthis month, the four countries agreed to accelerate numerous
\ntrilateral and bilateral business deals by improving air and
\nwater transportation facilities.<\/p>\n
\"Each country has assigned their airlines to link the areas,
\nand for Indonesia, we have assigned Merpati and Bouraq,\" Hartarto
\nsaid, adding that an air transportation agreement will be
\nformalized in the next ministerial meeting in Brunei next month.<\/p>\n
He also noted that Indonesia and the Philippines is finalizing
\nnegotiations on sea links between Manado and Davao in the
\nPhilippines. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/west-sumatra-to-enter-two-growth-triangles-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}