LIPI To Support TIA-GT Program

Jakarta, Jan 16 (Antara) -- The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) will support the Timor Leste-Indonesia-Australia Growth Triangle (TIA-GT) program by imparting knowledge on science. "The institute`s role is to assist the government by providing justification and legitimacy to the possible state-level policy in the program," Head of LIPI Iskandar Zulkarnain said here on Thursday. Justifying and legitimizing the policy is required to ensure benefits that can be utilized by all participants of the program, he stated. Moreover, he affirmed that LIPI will not play a role in the state-level affairs. "Our job is to assist in the implementation level," Zulkarnain added. According to the LIPI head, the institute will conduct analysis based on the context of the cooperation program. "For example, if the subject is related to community empowerment, our studies will focus on using appropriate technologies that can work towards the objectives," he explained. Delegates of the TIA-GT program led by Joao Mendes Goncalves held a meeting with LIPI to discuss follow-up measures to develop cooperation. Goncalves led a delegation of Timor-Leste officials to bring the initiatives of the triangular cooperation program to focus for the new government of Indonesia under President Joko Widodo`s administration. The government of Indonesia and Timor-Leste are ready to move the triangular initiative forward with Australia after visible areas of cooperation are agreed upon by each member country. The triangular cooperation was used by Timor-Leste in 2010 to establish bilateral cooperation with Indonesia, but the Australian government expressed its interest to join with regard to the potential to develop eastern Indonesia, Timor-Leste and northern Australia. The cooperation among the three countries is aimed at improving physical connectivity (roads and maritime infrastructure), institutional connectivity (open governance and regulations) and people-to-people connectivity. Furthermore, Timor-Leste is striving to become a member of the ASEAN and is using the available time to develop its infrastructure and connectivity. "We must guarantee that our national interest is secured before we choose to participate," Zulkarnain remarked.