REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUPANG - Direct flights from Kupang to Darwin will re-open soon to serve the passengers. "Government will increase the cooperation with Australia, especially in North Territory, to develop the East Indonesia regions. It is along with the program of Masterplan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia (MP3EI)," the Governor of NTT, Frans Lebu Raya, said on Friday.

The direct flights are related to the evaluation of the program and service on infrastructure in NTT. He explained that the reopening was the agreement between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard on his state visit to Australia in early July.

SBY said that the visit would boost the cooperation with Australia in corridor V of MP3EI (covering Bali and Nusa Tenggara) on cattle breeding, tourism, and air transportation. The air transportation is an important point to boost the trade and education between both countries.

Governor Lebu Raya said the NTT airbase was widening and reconstructed. Government allocates 40 billion IDR budget for the first stage of the reconstruction. The previous 900-meter runway will be lengthened to 2,500 meters.

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