Border governors to promote cooperation

GOVERNORS from the border provinces of PNG and Indonesia agreed to promote cooperation in economic and social activities during the 71st Indonesian independence celebration in Jayapura last week.
West Sepik Governor Amkat Mai and Papua Governor Lukas Enembe signed a letter of intent on provincial cooperation in agriculture, trade, education, social culture, sports and other fields on Aug 17.
In the meeting, Mai asserted that the letter of intent was not only to develop cooperation between the provinces but also the cooperation with Indonesia and PNG as a whole because of the relationship with Indonesia has a strategic value and expect a lot with Indonesia.
“During this time we have no obstacle in strengthening cooperation, we firmly position that Papua is part of Indonesia homeland,” he said.
Meanwhile, Vanimo based Indonesian consul Elmar Iwan Lubis said Mai’s visit to Jayapura was considered of strategic importance.
“There was an increase in trade between Indonesia and PNG through Batas market,” he said
In June Lubis and Mai visited Jakarta and Surabaya in East Java to further explore the relationship and cooperation.
Lubis said industries in East Java required raw materials from PNG while PNG required finished goods from Indonesia.
“So it’s a mutually beneficial cooperation that we continue to reinforce,” he said.