Sulawesi governors to form joint secretariat

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi (JP): The governors of Sulawesi, attending a working meeting, agreed on Thursday to form a joint secretariat for regional development to speed up growth in the area.

"This joint secretariat is part of a serious effort to anticipate globalization and accelerate economic growth in the country's eastern provinces, which have been forsaken for quite sometime," Southeast Sulawesi Governor Laode Kaimuddin said during a break in the meeting.

The joint secretariat will be based in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

Officially opened on Thursday, the gathering is the seventh of its kind since the first meeting took place in Makassar in 1989.

Among those in attendance are North Sulawesi Governor A.J. Sondakh, South Sulawesi Governor HZB Palaguna and Central Sulawesi Governor B. Paliudju.

Kaimuddin said two recommendations would be issued during the meeting, one on economic affairs and the other dealing with social solidarity among the people of Sulawesi.

"We will establish a basic framework for development in Sulawesi, and the fiscal and monetary policies for the export and import of goods to island," he added.

On social solidarity, the joint secretariat will address outbreaks of violence in Poso and Luwu, as well as other areas of the island, Kaimuddin said.

"A joint board including youths, women, legislators, representatives of social institutions and journalists will be setup to lead reconciliation efforts," he said.

Junior Minister of the Acceleration of Development in Eastern Indonesia Manuel Kaisiepo failed to attend the meeting as had been expected. (27/edt)