Aussies urge growth triangle involving Indonesia and PNG

JAKARTA (JP): Australia is inviting Indonesia to create a new growth triangle that will also involve Papua New Guinea (PNG).

"The idea of the new growth triangle was presented in a seminar on tourism development held recently in Darwin, Australia. As the participants were mostly businessmen and members of international associations, the proposal will be sent to the governments of the three countries soon," Director General of Tourism Andi Mappi Sammeng told reporters after opening a seminar here yesterday.

He said the development of the existing triangle of growth, involving Singapore, Johor of Malaysia and Riau of Indonesia, is progressing smoothly, supporting the growth of the tourist industry.

He said the planned Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand growth triangle, linking the northern part of Malaysia, the northern provinces of Indonesia's Sumatra island and southern Thailand, will also promote the tourist industry of the three countries.

Indonesia will also cooperate with Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines to create another growth area, linking Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan in Malaysia, East and West Kalimantan and North Sulawesi in Indonesia, Mindanao in the Philippines and Brunei.

According to Andi, the newest growth area will be called the Arafura Growth Triangle, and will link West and East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Irian Jaya of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Northern Territory of Australia.

He said that Ian Kennedy, the vice president of the Pacific Asia Travel Association's (PATA) Pacific division, the sponsor of the seminar held on August 29 and 30, will submit official proposals to the governments of Australia, Indonesian and PNG on the establishment of the new growth area.

Indonesia, Australia and PNG have agreed to promote the tourism aspect of their ties. (icn)