Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA News) - East Java`s Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) fully supports a "Sister Province" cooperation between East Java and Western Australia.
"The cooperation has a positive impact on both sides, especially the increase in East Java economic growth," Kadin spokesman Adri Istambul Lingga Gayo said here on Friday.
He said the economic development could improve the quality and quantity of economic relations between East Java and Western Australia.
"Such an effort can move the economy, and we are optimistic that the Sister Province cooperation will be able to reduce poverty and unemployment rates in East Java," he said.
Western Australia`s Governor Ken Michael AC was in East Java on October 3-5 to commemorate the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Sister State/Province relationship.
During his visit Michael signed a re-affirmation of the Western Australia-East Java Sister State/Province Agreement originally signed on August 21, 1990.
At the time he said Sister State/Province relationship remained important in promoting bilateral trade and business as well as fostering people-to-people links.
The Governor also officially opened the newly restored buildings of Surabaya`s Karya Mulia, the only school in Indonesia offering full education to deaf children.
To commemorate this year`s anniversary, the West Australian Government contributed A$100,000 towards building improvements to the school.
The week long anniversary celebrations, which started on the weekend, showcased the positive linkages and people-to-people relations already established between the two states/provinces.
Celebrations kicked off with friendly international basketball games between Western Australia and East Java teams at Surabaya`s DBL (Development Basketball League) Arena.
Besides having Sister City Cooperation with Western Australia, the East Java Kadin spokesman said the province also had similar ties with Osaka, Japan.
"In addition, East Java also has similar cooperation relation with Busan, South Korea, and Pecs, a city in Hungaria," he said.
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