Irian Jaya to get 9b euro aid

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Some countries grouped in the European Economic Union have expressed their willingness to provide a total of 9 billion euros to boost the development of the easternmost province of Irian Jaya.

The head of Development Program Bureau, Terry J. Antoh, told journalists here on Wednesday that the promise was voiced during a visit of a Papuan delegation to some European countries last month. The delegation was led by the head of the provincial development board, SP Inauri.

"The provincial administration will send a team to meet with the EEU delegation in Jakarta on Aug. 12," Antoh said.

Local people prefer to call themselves Papuans, rather than Irianese.

According to Antoh, the money would we used to finance infrastructure projects and the empowerment of the local economy.

"We will ask the central government not to 'touch' the money. The money will be transferred to the Papuan Development Bank which will be established soon in Jayapura. In the future, the bank will handle and manage all funds from foreign agencies, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank," said Antoh.

Jakarta has allocated Rp 1.5 trillion in development funds through a crash program for the province. (34/sur)