RI, TAIWAN TO COOPERATE IN DEVELOPING EASTERN PART OF INDONESIA

          Jakarta, Oct 10 (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Taiwan are to cooperate in tourism and fisheries sector as an effort to develop the eastern part of Indonesia, Minister of Marine and Fisheries Affairs Fadel Muhammad said here on Monday at a gala dinner commemorating the 100th anniversary of Taiwan.

         "Morotai of Maluku province will be made as the central of the bilateral cooperation. We expect to develop the marine and tourism sectors in the area with the assistance of Foreign Direct Investment from Taiwanese entrepreneurs," said the minister adding that the government had planned to give special incentive to the investors such as easing off the investment process and special tax.

         The minister said the new cooperation with Taiwan is expected to be realized in 2012 in accordance with the Sail Morotai 2012 event.

         Meanwhile Taiwan's Chief of Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta (TETO), Andrew Hsia, expressed hope the upcoming cooperation with Indonesia would help strengthen the relations between the two countries.

         "In Morotai, we expect to invest in several sectors such as tourism, aquaculture fish farming, agriculture and logistic," said Andrew adding that he and the representatives from Indonesian Marine and Fisheries Ministry were still discussing about the cooperation.

         Earlier, Secretary of North Maluku province, Muhadjir Albar, said Taiwan investors would be invited to take part in Morotai island`s development programs as the center of tuna industry in Indonesia. This program is an idea from the ministry of marine and fisheries affairs.

         "The Marine and Fisheries Ministry choose Morotai island as the center of tuna industry in Indonesia as the waters has a great potential for tuna, particularly the yellow fin tuna which is in great demand in export markets," Muhadjir noted.

         The investors, both domestic and foreign, are interested to invest in fisheries sector in North Maluku, but to realize its investment there are a number of obstacles, including limited capacity of electricity.
         Therefore, the North Maluku provincial administration continues to pursue the investor to invest to the electricity supply in the province, especially by using the alternative energy such as geothermal and hydro powers.