Sulawesi governors to form joint secretariat

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)