E. Timor animal husbandry luring

DILI: An official from the Communication Forum of East Timor/West Nusa Tenggara -- Darwin, Manuel Viegas Carrascalao, has said that Darwin (Australia) businesspeople are interested in developing animal husbandry in East Timor.

Carrascalao, forum chairman for the East Timor region, said Monday that a ranch might be developed in the southern part of East Timor.

He said that telephone contacts have been made between him and Australian businesspeople. "They said they want to come here in the middle of this month. I asked them to review their plans, because everyone has been busy with the election campaign," Carrascalao told The Jakarta Post.

The southern part of the province would be the best location for the ranch, he said. "The soil is good and water is available all year long. That gives it a good prospect."

The main market target of the husbandry in the future would probably be Jakarta, he said. "We want to supply meat for the capital," said Carrascalao, who is a House of Representatives member from the Golkar faction. (37/sur)