E. Indonesia and Australia

E. Indonesia and Australia

Another step has been taken in Indonesian-Australian relations
with the reaching of an agreement to form a working group to
prepare the setting up of an Australia-Indonesia Development
Area. Although it will take a considerable amount of time before
this plan can be realized, it is to be hoped that the agreement
will be a step forward in the two countries' economic relations.

As far as eastern Indonesian is concerned, this cooperation
plan involving Australia will further spur the efforts to develop
the areas that are still comparatively undeveloped. So far the
efforts to develop the areas have had little result.

Naturally the government cannot do much without the support of
the private sector. On the other hand there is not much the
private sector can do, especially in the provinces, without the
government providing them with adequate facilities. The
government and the private sector, then, at the center as well as
in the provinces, should sit down together and coordinate their
steps in order that the greatest possible benefit can be reaped
from the planned cooperation scheme.

Developing this region together will also help to reduce the
uncertainty between the two countries. People in bordering areas
will be encouraged to learn to understand each other better. This
is important for both Indonesians and Australians as they work
together to achieve a brighter future for the Asia-Pacific
region.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta