Kupang – Timor Leste's plan to import chicken meat from Indonesia, specifically East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), has been impeded by the absence of an official notification from the province's administration stating the province is free from bird flu.

The Timor Leste Consul in Kupang, Feliciano da Costa, said it had been importing chicken meat from Brazil to meet demand.

"We will try [to import from Indonesia], because we've heard from poultry breeders that NTT is free from bird flu," said da Costa in Kupang on Tuesday, as quoted by Kompas.com.

"Therefore, we want a certificate or recommendation saying that poultry products from NTT are free from bird flu so that we can work together," he went on.

Da Costa said that quarantine regulations in Timor Leste were very strict and there was a plan to revise them. It was hoped that under the revised regulations, there would be more opportunities for partnerships with its neighboring region, in particular in the animal husbandry sector.

"In the future, Timor Leste has a dream that NTT and Timor Leste can develop an economic zone," said da Costa. He said Timor Leste with a population of 1 million and NTT with 6 million could become a strong economic power because they had similar cultures.

To accelerate the trade cooperation, Timor Leste should first develop economic zones. In this regard, da Costa said, Timor Leste had prepared a trade economic zone in Oekusi district which directly bordered with Timor Tengah Utara regency, in NTT. (hrl/ebf)