REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUPANG - The Atapupu seaport in Belu district, East Nusa Tenggara, could become a border trade center for Indonesia and Timor Leste, an official said.

"Located at the border between East Nusa Tenggara and Timor Leste, the Atapupu port is very strategic as a border trade center for the two countries," local Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Chairman Abraham Paul Lyanto said here on Saturday. 

He noted that selling along the border should be strengthened in the interest of the residents in East Nusa Tenggara and Timor Leste. Lyanto added, if the port turned into a border trade center, it would increase trade for small and medium industrial products between the two countries.

"Therefore, we need government assistance to provide the people in Belu district with facilities and infrastructure at the Atapupu port," Lyanto noted.

Meanwhile, Belu District Head Joachim Lopez said the port would become a transit port for international trade with the people of Timor Leste.

"Therefore, we have taken a concrete step to expand the container vessel berthing pier and container terminal at the Atapupu port," Lopez said.

Atapupu port is situated 230 km east of the East Nusa Tengara provincial city of Kupang, and 20 km north of Atambua, the main town in the district of Belu, which runs along the border with Timor Leste.

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