Canberra aid targets E. Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): Australian Minister for Administrative Services Frank Walker yesterday affirmed his country's intention of helping development in Indonesia's eastern region.

"Australia thinks (the region) is important because it is closest to Australia... It is also where development is most needed and where some of the country's poorest people live," he said during a press conference.

He said feasibility studies for a large hydropower plant were currently being carried out in the Mamberamo Valley in Irian Jaya and for low-cost housing in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.

Other projects currently being studied include those related to satellite remote sensing and aero-mapping surveys.

Australia, he said, was also interested in the tourism industry and plans assist in the expansion of the smaller airports in many parts of the region.

Walker, who has been traveling to parts of eastern Indonesia for the last nine days, said the value of the projects and their prerequisites would be settled after the feasibility studies. He said the studies are expected to be completed in May next year.

At that time, Indonesian State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie is expected to visit Australia, during which a deal on the implementation of the projects will most likely be signed as well, he said.(pwn)