Indonesia, Australia to Sign Cooperation Agreement on Transport

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi will sign a cooperation agreement on transportation between Indonesia and Australia.

“Australian Ambassador Paul Grigson arrives today to extend an invitation from Australian Transportation Minister to sign an MoU on transportation cooperation between Indonesia and Australia,” the ministry’s spokesman Hengki Angkasawan said in a written statement received by Tempo today.

Moreover, Hengki added that a business forum will be held with transportation business owners to attract Australian investment to Indonesia in the field of transportation infrastructure. In the first meeting with Mr. Paul, Minister Budi discussed additional flights from Lombok, Labuan Bajo and Bali to Down Under.

So far, flag carrier Garuda Indonesia and Indonesia Air Asia have been operating flights from Jakarta and Denpasar to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Meanwhile, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia have opened new routes from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin, Adelaide Townsville and Ciarns to Bali’s Denpasar and Jakarta. “The aim of the opening of new routes from Indonesia to Australia and vice versa is to promote tourism and relations between the two nations,” Hengki said.

The two countries will also cooperate in the marine sector, Hengki said, by preparing a draft MoU between the Directorate General of Sea Transport and Australia Marine Safety Authority on maritime borders and mitigation of marine pollution.

In addition, the governments of Indonesia and Australia will be cooperating to regulate and promote transportation safety according to the international standards. “The meeting will also review the existing cooperation and expand potential bilateral agreements between the two countries,” Hengki said.

CAESAR AKBAR