Issues relating to the development of regional links with East Nusa Tenggara will be presented during a Charles Darwin University symposium titled Resource management and development in East Nusa Tenggara in the era of regional autonomy, on 26 September.
The symposium is part of the current CDU project within the School of Science and Primary Industries funded by AusAID’s Public Sector Linkage Program.
The symposium will include presentations by senior Indonesian leaders about key issues for resource management and development in eastern Indonesia, and past, present and future collaborations between NT and East Nusa Tenggara.
Key Indonesian participants include Head of the Provincial Planning Department Dr Jamin Habid, Chief Administrator of South Central Timor Dr Danial A Banunaek, Chief Administrator of East Sumba Ir. Umbu Mehang Kunda, and Administrators of Ngada and Nagakeo Dr Elias Djo and Dr Piet Jos Nuwa Wea.
East Nusa Tenggara is the Indonesian province closest to Darwin and home to more than 4.5 million people. Economically, it is among the poorest provinces in Indonesia.
CDU has a long association with eastern Indonesia, particularly through collaborative research and training in the area of natural resource mapping and management for improved rural livelihoods.
There is an urgent need to promote rural development in eastern Indonesia to ensure economic and political stability. Eastern Indonesia has been targeted as an area of priority for a range of international donor organisations.
The Northern Territory and CDU are in a unique position to contribute to the development of the region due to its shared geography, environments and capacity for work in remote areas.
During the past 10 years, there has been a move in Indonesia to promote increased regional autonomy through the devolution of power away from Jakarta to the provincial and regency level.
For more information contact bronwyn.myers@cdu.edu.au or check the project website: http://indonnrmpslp.ehs.cdu.edu.au/