Bali to strengthen cooperation in tourism, health sectors with darwin

Denpasar, Bali (Antaranews Bali) - Consul of Indonesia in Darwin, Australia, Dicky D. Soerjanatamihardja expressed keenness to strengthen cooperation in the tourism and health sectors with the Bali provincial government.

"We will initiate to strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector, as Bali is a favorite tourist destination among foreign visitors, especially Australians," he noted during a meeting with Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika in Denpasar on Friday.

He remarked that Bali and the Northern Territory in Australia, especially Darwin, had already established cooperation in various fields, but the spirit of residing Indonesians to strengthen cooperation has never faded.

According to Soerjanatamihardja, the community of Indonesians, especially from Bali, who reside in the Northern Territory, is active in introducing the Indonesian culture to local people in Australia.

"Indonesian communities living there are active in encouraging investors from Darwin to invest in Bali. Although several private investments have entered Bali, but they still encourage them," he pointed out.

At a meeting attended by Head of Public Relations and Protocol Bureau of Bali Province I Dewa Gede Mahendra Putra, Head of the Bali Culture Department Dewa Beratha also remarked that they are encouraging cooperation in beef exports and imports between Bali and Darwin.

Meanwhile, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika lauded the exposure offered by Soerjanatamihardja.

"The Sanglah Hospital and Regional Public Hospital (RSUD) of Bali Mandara have been working along with Darwin hospital, and the medical staff has also received training," he stated.

Another form of cooperation was established in the field of "counter disaster." According to Pastika, disaster mitigation measures in the Northern Territory region are well-prepared, and several officers have received joint training both in Bali and Darwin.

"This cooperation is established following the Bali bombings in 2012, and we had received several forms of assistance from Australia during that time," he added.

"The Australian government also views this cooperation as significant due to the fact that several Australians reside in Bali, so they expect their citizens to be handled in accordance with the standards," he remarked.

Speaking in connection with several cooperative relations established, Pastika vowed to follow up on them, both at the level of the Australian Consulate General and at the bureaucratic level in Indonesia. (adt/sys/INE)