TIMOR LESTE EXPECTS MUSLIM COUNTRIES’ ROLE IN FREE ECONOMIC ZONE

Jakarta, 12 Jumadil Akhir 1435/12 April, 2014 (MINA) – The Muslim community in Timor Leste expected the role of Muslim-majority countries (Indonesia, Malaysia and Middle East countries) in the launcing of Free Economic Zone that will be started at 2014.

“The government mandated  the former Prime Minister Mari Bim Amude Alkatiri and I to set up Free Economic Zone in the district of Oecusse, Dili. Our expectations, Muslim countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Middle East countries to participate in this program,” The adviser of Timor Leste Foreign Affairs Ministry, Syaikh Arif Abdullah Sagran  told  Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) on Saturday.

Sagran said, this program aims at raising its national economic development. “Our country needs a breakthrough in the field of economics to encourage foreign investors to come and stimulate the potential of Timor Leste people,” he added.

Sagran had offered the program to Singapore and China’s government. “They  agreed to manage all this program, but  then we considered to reject it as we need muslim’s ,” he said.

“Indonesia has been playing a strategic  role in the development of Timor Leste. Our citizens are learning from the country. “If Indonesia, especially Muslim community can participate in this program, we would be very happy,” he stated.

Oecussi-Ambeno is a city of Timor Leste with Pante Makassar as its capital. It is located in the north coast of Timor Leste, 281km to the west of Dili, the national capital. According to the census of East Timor, the total population are 700,000 people in 2013.

The Oecussi word refers to the trading in the past with Makasar, Sulawesi. Among the local people, Oecussi also known as Pante Makasar.  This name was taken from one of the exised kingdom there. Other names are Ambeno. In the Portuguese colonial era, the city was also known as the Villa Taveiro.(L/Nidiya/P02/P04).

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)