A Taiwan-Indonesia development plan for Morotai Island is inching closer to implementation, according to International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) Aug. 14.
“We have completed preparation work for the initiative and will send two project managers to Jakarta and Morotai later this month to map out details,” said Hsu Hui-wen, director of TaiwanICDF’s Landing and Investment Department.
TaiwanICDF, which is backed by the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is the country’s representative agency in the project. Its Indonesian counterpart is industrial estate developer Jababeka Group.
Representatives from both sides wrapped up a consultation meeting July 24 in Taipei City, agreeing to come together again in Indonesia sometime in the first quarter of 2014.
Hsu said it was agreed at the meeting that a communication platform would be established before launching a review process for respective project blueprints. Once consensus is reached, the plans are to be integrated into a final version and submitted for governmental review, she added.
“The Indonesian government is also fast-tracking a bill that will transform Morotai into a special economic zone benefitting the island’s residents while balancing environmental protection and sustainability.”
Four types of economic activity, including ecotourism, fish farming and forestry, will be strategically promoted in the zone, Hsu said. “We are working with Taiwan’s private sector to identify potential investment opportunities for local firms in the project.”
According to Hsu, Taiwan was first approached by the Indonesian government to take part in the initiative on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting in 2011. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in December 2012 calling for Taiwan to provide economic development know-how.
Morotai, located 2,600 kilometers from Taiwan, is the largest island of the Maluku archipelago in eastern Indonesia. (SFC-JSM)
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