Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi received Indonesian Ambassador to Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Solomon Islands Andriana Supandi on Monday (Nov. 22) to discuss opportunities for transportation cooperation between Indonesia and PNG.

Budi Karya said that in the field or sub-sector of sea transportation, Indonesia is exploring opportunities for logistics or shipping entrepreneurs to expand shipping routes from eastern Indonesia to PNG.

"I support the opening of shipping that has opportunities in export and import activities between the two countries. I also promote commodities that could be exported to Papua New Guinea to be integrated with those transported by sea tolls," Budi Karya said here on Monday.

The minister added that the government would also explore opportunities for direct flights from Indonesia to Papua New Guinea.

Earlier, aviation cooperation between the two countries was regulated in an agreement on air connectivity signed in June 2013.

The agreement states that both countries are allowed to fly to the cities of Jakarta and Denpasar in Indonesia, as well as Port Moresby and Lae in PNG.

"I support more in-depth studies related to the opening of direct flight routes to open air connectivity between the two countries," the minister said.

Meanwhile, in the field of land transportation, Budi Karya said he would explore the opening of a cross-border route to be operated by Damri, Indonesian state-owned land transportation company.

Currently, the Directorate General of Land Transportation is preparing a memorandum of understanding draft as the legal basis for the cross-border transportation cooperation.

"This is an opportunity to increase tourism potential and the economy of both countries," Budi Karya said.

He hoped that the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby would help coordinate and communicate efforts to increase cooperation in the transportation sector with the Papua New Guinea government.

On the same occasion, Ambassador Andriana Supandi said that these opportunities could be developed by Indonesia to increase cooperation in the Pacific region.

Reporting by Indonesia Window