T

he Indonesian government has promised to further strengthen economic relations with Timor Leste by offering technical assistance and training to the public works sector in the neighboring country.

The commitment was conveyed by Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono during a meeting with the Minister of Public Works, Transportation and Communication, Gastão Francisco de Sousa, for Timor Leste in Jakarta on Friday.

'€œIndonesia'€™s contractors and consultants, fully backed by the public housing minister, are ready to help Timor Leste. Members of Southeast Asia have to develop hand in hand,'€ said Basuki.

Gastão and his delegation came to Jakarta to promote cooperation between the two countries in the fields of human development, infrastructure management, policy formulation and safety controls for infrastructure projects.

He hoped the existing agreement could be extended in order to further strengthen cooperation in capacity building, particularly in public housing and associated research and development, either through the government or private sector.

'€œCurrently a number of Indonesia'€™s state-owned and private companies are involved in building roads, bridges and airports in our country. Hence, we hope they can transfer their knowledge to our private sectors and government institutions,'€ Gastão said.

Minister Basuki said he encouraged Indonesian companies currently involved in construction projects in Timor Leste to provide training for local workers as a way of promoting development in the country.

Basuki also advised the Timor Leste government develop infrastructure based on well-designed urban plans, advice which Indonesia seldom followed.

'€œWe want you to learn from our recklessness, you should not follow us. That'€™s how we should learn, not only from success but also failure,'€ said the 60-year-old minister.

Indonesia and Timor Leste first signed an infrastructure development cooperation agreement in March 2011, extended to 2017, focusing on training, urban planning and public infrastructure and urban development.

At present, the public housing ministry has already sent 18 experts to Timor Leste to train and supervise 200 junior staffers in Timor Leste'€™s National Development Agency.

Additionally, Indonesia'€™s private sector has been involved in Timor Leste construction projects worth US$344.2 million through 11 construction companies.

Wijaya Karya, for instance, a state-run construction firm, won a tender to upgrade the Oe-Cusse airport, with a contract worth $75 million that included a runway extension and safety system upgrades. Waskita Karya won a tender to develop the Suai airport in the Covalima disctrict in 2013 costing about $67 million. (agn)