RI-Australia infrastructure ties boosted

RI-Australia infrastructure ties boosted

JAKARTA (JP): Australia and Indonesia agreed yesterday to
initiate a tangible program to boost infrastructure development
which would support national economic growth and regional
cooperation.

At the closing of the Second Australia-Indonesia Ministerial
Forum in Canberra yesterday, ministers from the two countries
agreed that, considering the important role of infrastructure, a
Working Group to oversee its development would be established.

In a joint statement, a copy of which was made available to
The Jakarta Post, the ministers said that the Working Group on
Infrastructure would "identify new opportunities and stimulate
new activity in a range of infrastructure sectors."

During the two-day meeting, the ministers also touched on the
likelihood of combining the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations' Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the Australia-New Zealand
Closer Economic Relations (CER).

The ministerial forum was initiated in 1992 by Australian
Prime Minister Paul Keating and Indonesian President Soeharto
during the inaugural meeting in Jakarta.

Delegations

The Australian delegation, led by Minister for Foreign Affairs
Gareth Evans, comprises no less than nine government ministers,
including Deputy Prime Minister Brian Howe, Minister for
Industry, Science and Technology Peter Cook and Minister for
Primary Industries and Energy Bob Collins.

Coordinating Minister for Industry and Trade Hartarto chaired
the Indonesian delegation, which included Minister of Foreign
Affairs Ali Alatas, Minister of Trade Satrio Budiardjo Joedono
and Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah.

Elaborating on infrastructure development, the ministers said
they agreed that the exact sectors would be identified by the
relevant departments of the two countries but private
participation was crucial.

In their statement, the ministers urged the quick and active
participation of the private sector to ensure the opportunities
in the development of infrastructure become concrete, commercial
outcomes.

The role of the private sector was further highlighted when
their participation was identified as "vital" in producing
substantive results to the range of trade and economic programs
undertaken by the Ministerial Forum.

Expounding further on other potential areas of bilateral
cooperation, the ministers revealed three electric power projects
here which would be taken up as a matter of priority by the
Indonesian National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).

Those projects are transmission and substations in South
Kalimantan and West Sumatra, development of electrical
distribution infrastructure in Sumatra and the development of a
transmission project in East Kalimantan.

Though the general atmosphere of the meeting were described as
positive with discussions taking place in a constructive and
practical approach, Indonesia did raise concern over Australian
anti-dumping acts which adverse Indonesian exporters.

Indonesia also expressed its concern at Australia's removal of
the Developing Country Preferences (DCP) as well as the high
levels of import duties on footwear, textiles and clothing.

AFTA-CER

Turning to a wider subject, the forum seriously discussed the
prospect of linking AFTA and the CER.

Both AFTA and the CER are institutions which seek to promote
free trade between their respective members.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups
Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines and
Indonesia.

Though still in its exploratory stage, nevertheless the
ministers agreed "an AFTA-CER link merited further serious
consideration."

The ministers felt that, in general, the Asia-Pacific region
was in a fluid situation and, therefore, they stressed the
importance of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in fostering mutual
confidence amongst countries.

The ARF is a regional dialog sponsored by ASEAN which involves
several Asia-Pacific countries including the United States,
Australia and Japan.

Harassment

The amiable mood that had existed throughout the meeting was
interrupted when Alatas complained about the harassment that
Indonesian embassy and consulate staff were being subjected to.

Embassy and consulate staff are often exposed to various
attacks by anti-Indonesian groups opposing the integration of
East Timor into the Republic of Indonesia.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Gareth Evans brought up the issue
of East Timor calling for greater autonomy and a withdrawal of
troops in Indonesia's youngest province.

As reported by AFP, a clearly angry Alatas revealed yesterday
that he had urged his counterpart to insure the protection of
Indonesian staff there against such attacks.

"These don't happen in other countries because, while freedom
of expression is fully honored, there are ways of arranging
things, channeling things," Alatas criticized.(mds)