RI-Timor border markets to open at last

Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu says infrastructure problems and a pending report on security are delaying the opening of traditional markets on the Indonesian-Timor Leste border that were completed almost six years ago.

“Once the infrastructure is ready ,the border markets will be opened and the people of the two countries can enjoy the markets,” Mari said in Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Sunday.

Mari was in the province to ensure that the markets were ready to open.

The markets, which were built in 2005, never went into operation, leading to the damage of some of the buildings — or their illegal conversion into shelters by squatters living near the border.

The six markets are located at Motaain, Motamasin and Turiskain in Belu regency and Nilulat Bikomi, Napan and Wini in North Timor Tengah regency.

NTT Industry and Trade Agency head Edy Ismail said that the markets were built by the provincial administration and would be managed by the Belu and North Timor Tengah regencies after they were opened.

“I do think that the markets should be opened as soon as possible so they will not be a waste of money,” Edy said.

To speed the opening of the markets, the governments of Indonesia and Timor Leste signed an agreement on border crossings in July 2010.

The agreement covers nine border crossings, including the one at Motaain, on the Indonesian side, and Batugede, on the Timor Leste side, in addition to the corssings at Metamauk-Salele, Napan-Bobometo, Builalu-Memo, Turiskain-Turiskain, Wini-Wini, Haumeniana-Passabe, Lakturus-Belulik Leten and Oepoli-Citrana.

Separately, Belu regency legislative council speaker Simon Guido Seran said that Indonesian exports to Timor Leste through Surabaya, Makassar and Atambua had been steadily increasing over the last several years.

“Indonesia’s export volume to East Timor reached Rp 1.6 billion [US$187,200] and will keep increasing. The presence of the border markets will surely offer improvements in the economy for the people in the border regions,” Simon said.

The opening of the border markets was also aimed at controlling the rampant smuggling of goods through illegal routes, he said.

Popular items for cross-border smuggling include kerosene, gasoline, staple foods and sandalwood.