Clare Martin visits RI

JAKARTA: Chief Minister of Australia's Northern Territory, Clare Martin, is currently in Indonesia for a three-day visit aimed at bolstering trade ties between Indonesia and the territory.

She met with President Megawati Soekarnoputri at the State Palace on Monday.

"The visit is aimed at strengthening the productive relationship between our two governments, which was established 10 years ago," she said in a press conference after meeting Megawati at the State Palace.

The Northern Territory government would explore opportunities for boosting cooperation in tourism, particularly in the back packers market, which had not been affected by the Asian economic crisis, she said.

Before paying a courtesy call on President Megawati, Martin held a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda. She described it as a "getting-to-know you meeting".

Martin is also scheduled to pay courtesy calls on other relevant ministers, such as those for education, tourism, and agriculture, to redefine agreements made between Indonesian and the Northern Territory governments over the past 10 years. --JP