JICA President Tanaka Visited Timor-Leste and Indonesia

JICA President Tanaka Akihiko visited the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and Indonesia from October 24 to November 2. In Timor-Leste, he met with President José Manuel Ramos-Horta, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, and other government officials, and participated in the inauguration ceremony for the completion of "The Programme for Urgent Rehabilitation of Flood Damaged Infrastructures in Timor-Leste," a grant aid project. Then, in Indonesia, in addition to meeting with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and other key government officials, he spoke with the ASEAN Secretariat. He also visited JICA project sites in both countries.

In Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, President Tanaka met with President Ramos-Horta and mutually confirmed that the two countries would continue to cooperate as partners based on the trust built over many years of bilateral cooperation. They also exchanged views on future initiatives toward realizing Timor-Leste's full membership in ASEAN. With Prime Minister Gusmão, President Tanaka exchanged views on development policies, including issues in the six key areas set forth by the new administration, as well as on the government's new policies.

President Tanaka attended and delivered a speech at the inauguration ceremony to celebrate the completion of "The Programme for Urgent Rehabilitation of Flood Damaged Infrastructures in Timor-Leste," held in Buluto, just under 90km east of the capital. He addressed that this project symbolizes the concept of "Build Back Better," which aims to mitigate disaster risks and build a society that is more resilient during the post-disaster recovery and reconstruction processes. He also congratulated the early completion of the project, which was achieved one year ahead of schedule.

In addition, at the Faculty of Engineering, Science, and Technology of the National University of Timor-Lorosa'e, where cooperation has been ongoing since before the restoration of independence in 2002, President Tanaka interacted with lecturers who have obtained master’s and doctoral degrees in Japan through technical cooperation and are currently serving in important government positions in Timor-Leste.

In Indonesia, President Tanaka met with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and other government officials in the capital city of Jakarta. He explained the direction of JICA’s projects, requested cooperation towards the promotion of these projects, and exchanged opinions on the possibility of future cooperation.

With Minister Hartarto, President Tanaka confirmed that the two countries will cooperate on the development of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) North-South Line (Construction of Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit Project), which is currently being extended with the help of a Japanese ODA loan. Minister Hartarto expressed his hope that the Jakarta Metropolitan Mass Rapid Transit East-West Line Project would commence as soon as possible and stated that the two countries would continue to work on key projects in the future.

In President Tanaka’s meeting with Vice Speaker of the People's Representative Council Rachmad Gobel, Vice Speaker Gobel expressed his hope for JICA's cooperation in the promotion of increased investment from Japan. He also introduced initiatives being carried out to eradicate poverty by improving farmers’ incomes through business support. One such example is chocolate production by a Japanese company, which, through JICA’s cooperation, started using locally produced Gorontalo cacao.

During his meeting with Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister Sri Mulyani requested continued support for infrastructure development, and also indicated the need for support in the fields of job creation, human resource development, renewable energy, and rural development. During the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was signed between JICA and Indonesian AID, an aid organization established in Indonesia, to strengthen the partnership between the two organizations.

In the meeting with Minister of National Development Planning/BAPPENAS Suharso Monoarfa, expectations were expressed for the rapid formation of new projects of Japanese ODA loans, and for investment from Japanese companies in the development of the new capital city. Also mentioned was the promotion of cooperation that took into account the “8 transformation agendas” and 17 indicators for their realization being pursued by Indonesia in the lead-up to the 100th anniversary of its independence in 2045.

At another meeting, Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono expressed his appreciation for the dispatch of engineers from Japan to aid in the development of dams and the new capital city in Indonesia, while Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi conveyed his hope for the early realization of the MRT North-South and East-West Line projects and the Patimban Port Development Project.

In addition, in Jakarta, President Tanaka exchanged opinions with ASEAN Secretariat officials and visited the Jakarta MRT North-South Line, which is supported by JICA, as well as Darma Persada University, to which JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers are currently being dispatched.

In the exchange of opinions with ASEAN Secretariat officials, the participants expressed their gratitude for the support that Japan and JICA have provided to the ASEAN region to date, in acknowledgment of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, and discussed Japan and JICA’s cooperation with ASEAN, with a view to cultivating a new cooperative relationship for the next 50 years.

In addition, President Tanaka visited Papua Province in eastern Indonesia, where he paid a visit to the Papua Provincial Government, Cenderawasih University, and JICA Partnership Program sites.

During his visit to the site of the "Agricultural technology improvement project through capacity development on agriculture extension service of agricultural extension officers and cooperation between farmers -Yamagata Papua bright rural project-," a JICA Partnership Program being operated in Papua Province, he observed how agricultural technologies developed locally in cooperation with Yamagata Prefecture are being disseminated through the organization and collaboration of local agricultural extension officers and farmers.