Darwin (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono suggested on Wednesday the establishment of a sub-regional cooperation involving Indonesia, Australia and East Timor.

Yudhoyono ending a two-day visit to Australia said in a news conference a special zone like Singapore-Johor-Riau (Sijori) Growth Triangle could be developed between eastern region of Indonesia, Australia`s northern Territory and Timor Leste.

The form of cooperation could be discussed between the three countries, he told reporters before returning to Indonesia.

He said in the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development, eastern Indonesian region is included in the fifth and sixth economic corridors.

The fifth corridor includes Bali, West Nusatenggara and East Nusatenggara and the sixth corridor includes Papua and Maluku.

Economic development in the sub-region could be accelerated if the two corridors are integrated with Australia`s Northern Territory and Timor Leste, Yudhoyono said.

"It would be a good sub-regional economic cooperation," he added.

He said Limor Leste during his recent visit to that country, already suggested integration in economic development with its Indonesian neighboring areas including Bali, East and West Nusatenggara.

Sub-regional cooperation could start with investment in the sectors of animal husbandry, health, education, tourism and transportation, he said.

Yudhoyono and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in a meeting here on Tuesday discussed economic cooperation already growing between eastern regions of Indonesia and Australia.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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