Indonesia, Timor Leste to Improve Economy in Border Areas

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The governments of Indonesia and Timor Leste have agreed to develop the economy in the border areas of Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province and Timor Leste’s Oecusse Municipality.

"I welcome the increasing trade relations between the two countries, and we are committed to intensifying discussions on economic development in the border areas between NTT and Oecusse," Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said on Monday, Feb. 13.

The statement was made during a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Timor Leste Taur Matan Ruak at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java province, on the outskirts of Jakarta.

Oecusse is an exclave municipality of Timor Leste that is surrounded by NTT Province.

Furthermore, the Indonesian president emphasized the importance of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Hence, the two countries agreed to encourage negotiations to establish a bilateral investment treaty to boost the development of the border areas.

KOMPAS.com/Dian Erika Indonesia's President Joko Widodo (right) and Prime Minister of Timor Leste Taur Matan Ruak (left) during a tree planting ceremony at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java province, on the outskirts of Jakarta on Monday, February 13, 2023.

Monday’s visit by Prime Minister Ruak is his third official visit to Indonesia. He had earlier visited Indonesia as president of Timor Leste in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

During the bilateral meeting, four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were inked by the two countries in the economy, education, and industry sectors.

The Timor Leste prime minister arrived at the Bogor Presidential Palace at 9:55 a.m. local time.
Previously, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi and her Timor Leste counterpart, Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno, met in Jakarta on Jan. 11, to discuss strategies to intensify economic cooperation and settle land boundaries between the two countries.

Also read: Timor Leste’s President José Ramos-Horta to Visit Indonesia in July

Furthermore, the two ministers agreed to begin discussions on a joint free-trade area agreement for the border industrial area between Oecusse Municipality and NTT Province.

They also discussed the importance of accelerating the completion of a Bilateral Investment Treaty and MoU on Communications and Informatics.

During the visit of Timor Leste President Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta in July 2022, Jokowi said that the value of Indonesia's investment in Timor Leste had reached $818 million in the banking, oil, and gas, as well as telecommunications sectors.

Timor Leste’s bid to join ASEAN

Jokowi also announced that Indonesia, as the current chair of ASEAN is preparing a road map to support the full membership of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste in the regional bloc.
"In principle, Timor Leste has been accepted as a member of ASEAN. A road map for full membership is being finalized, led by Indonesia as the current chair of ASEAN," Jokowi said.

He said that he was pleased with the acceptance of Timor Leste as a member of ASEAN, following the results of the ASEAN Summit 2022 in Cambodia.

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said she believes that Timor Leste's ASEAN membership could contribute to improving the stability and prosperity of the region.

Also read: Indonesia-Timor Leste Ministers Hold Economic, Border Talks

Earlier this month, Adaljiza joined the 32nd ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) meeting in Jakarta on Feb. 3 as an observer.

However, the ACC still needs to discuss the further steps for Timor Leste to obtain full membership of the ASEAN after the country’s initial participation in the meeting.

Adaljiza had described joining the ASEAN as a very important moment in Timor Leste’s history.

Timor Leste supports ASEAN as a center for growth, under the theme of Indonesia's 2023 ASEAN chairmanship, she added.

In addition, she said that membership is important because no country is free from the problems and dynamics that occur at the regional level.

Source: State News Antara