Canberra aid targets E. Indonesia

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)