REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUPANG - Timor Leste encourages special border trade zone to help communities at border area between Indonesia and Timor Leste, to develop domestic economy in both countries. Consulate of Timor Leste, Feliciano da Costa said the special zone would begin in 2014.
"The border trade zone is located at Oecusse district of Timor Leste and Central Timor regency of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia," Feliciano said on Monday.
Policy of development of the border trade zone was based on a number of things, including the importance to boost economy of for Indonesians and Timor Leste people as they still have blood ties and share similar culture. People at the border has been in touch long ago and both sides have built traditional trading center before Timor Leste separated from Indonesia in 1999.
Feliciano added, to revive the passion at the border zone, they would maximize port of Atapupu in Belu regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Atapupu port could become a center for international trade transit pier, especially to Timor Leste.