Papua New Guinea's Ministry of State Enterprises and Investment is eyeing joint projects with Indonesia as a way of promoting economic growth in the border area.
A Ministry team recently went to Jakarta where it discussed cross-border partnerships with Indonesian counterparts.
Indonesia is shifting its oil and gas exploration focus to its eastern region and, with PNG, is laying the groundwork for operations to explore for reserves which Jakarta says would be easier to explore as a joint effort.
The leader of the team which went to Indonesia, Dr Clement Waine, says they are looking at opening the border area right up.
"We are looking at power projects that will come from the Jayapura side over to Vanimo and Aitape, we are looking at road projects to open up the frontier, we are looking at fibre optics to improve the communications in the area. And that will help to empower the people of West Papua in terms of economic opportunities along their own border."
Dr Clement Waine
