The ambassador pointed out that the Oecusse Special Administrative Region, the Timorese exclave which is surrounded by the Indonesian territory, has myriad export potentials to offer to Indonesia.
"Unfortunately, many technical and non-technical issues are hindering the process that make export and import activities between both countries, particularly imports from Oecusse, to not proceed properly," Manik stated here on Saturday.
Some commodities in Oecusse that can be exported to Indonesia are anthill, porang (Amorphophallus muelleri Blume), and cattle that are in high demand in Indonesia, he noted.
Manik said that the business and investment forum, organized with the "Towards an advanced border region" theme, is a medium to discuss various export and import issues and acquaint local entrepreneurs with export and import regulations.
He then expressed hope that the forum would enhance economic activities in border regions that will benefit residents of each border side.
The ambassador highlighted President Joko Widodo's full commitment to developing border regions, and his visit to the Indonesia-Timor Leste border to observe the border region development had accentuated this pledge.
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The Indonesian Government is also committed to providing opportunities to Timorese pupils to gain higher education, he noted, adding that the Education Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Timor Leste will present 50 to 100 scholarships to pupils in the Oecusse region alone this year.
Meanwhile, President of the Special Administrative Region of Oecusse Arsenio Bano opined that the business and investment forum organized by the Indonesian embassy is important to boost the border economy.
Stakeholders can gather and discuss together to improve the economy in the Indonesia-Timor Leste border better, Bano stated.
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Translator: Kornelis Kaha, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
