The administrations of Jayapura in Indonesia and Vanimo in neighbouring Papua New Guinea are to cooperate in the agricultural sector.
The Jakarta Post reports the Jayapura Mayor Benhur Tommy Mano as saying his administration has met twice with Vanimo leaders, discussing co-operation and efforts to build friendship.
Jayapura is the capital of Papua province which shares a border with PNG, the main access point in the far north being close to Vanimo, the capital of West Sepik province.
Mayor Benhur says that under the cooperation framework, Vanimo residents would be sent to Jayapura for six month training courses on agriculture and animal husbandry, after which they are expected to return to their hometown and practice their skills.
He hoped that the cooperation could also overcome problems between the two provincial capitals, such as smuggling and trespassing.
Vanimo residents in PNG are being offered training opportunities in nearby Indonesia to bring back agriculture skills. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
The co-operation efforts come as Jayapura has also begun forging closer links with the municipal administration in Wewak, the capital of PNG's East Sepik Province.
Tabloid Jubi reported that the Wewak Mayor Charles Malenki and Jayapura's mayor signed a letter of intent at the city hall in mid-May for their two towns to build cooperation in sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, education and health.
