Timor Leste's Delegation Visit Batam

Batam, Riau Islands, June `7 (Antara) - Timor Leste`s former prime minister Mari Alkatiri led a five-member delegation during a visit to Batam, Riau Islands Province, to learn about Batam economic zone. Timor Leste planned to develop a similar economic zone, Dwi Djoko Wiwoho, a spokesman of the Batam Authorities, said here on Monday. The neighboring country`s delegation consisted of Filomeno Aleixo, former state apparatus minister and regional administration, Arif Abdullah Sagran, expert staff and commissioner of Timor Leste`s General Election Commission, and Liona Monteiro, the former prime minister`s office head. They intended to collect information about the Batam economic zone development, including its management and relations with the central government and regional administrations, Wiwoho said. "The visit is also aimed at establishing cooperation between Batam and Timor Leste particularly in Oecusse area," he said. Alkatiri and his delegation held a closed-door meeting with the Batam authorities` officials on Monday morning. Former Batam authorities` chief Ismeth Abdullah also attended the meeting. They were planned to visit a number of industrial zones in Batam, such as Batamindo and Kabil industrial zones.