Cross-Border Bus Service Set to Launch between Indonesia, Timor Leste in March

Enhancing investment, trade ties

While in Indonesia, the Prime Minister also witnessed the signing of a joint statement on the establishment of an economic zone in border areas.

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

Both governments have agreed to develop the economy in the border areas of Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province and Timor Leste’s Oecusse Municipality.

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

The visit also saw the signing of memorandums of understanding (MoUs). The four MoUs focused on the areas of higher education, industrial engineering, as well as meteorology, climatology, and geophysics, and the capacity building for the national elections commission.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo stressed the importance of building stronger economic cooperation with Timor Leste, resolving border issues, development cooperation, and the accession of Timor Leste to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to the envoy.

“We aim to achieve mutually beneficial cooperation, enhancing economic cooperation in border areas, especially in East Nusa Tenggara,” said Okto.

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

The improved connectivity between the two nations will pave the way for the business and economic sector, supporting the movement of people and goods, the ambassador said.