WINNING THE PEACE: SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES DEVELOPMENT MODEL FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN THE CONTEXT OF PEACEFUL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION IN THE BORDERS OF NKRI – RDTL

Abstract

This study descrribes government efforts and community readiness in accepting Special Economic Development (SED) while designing Special Economic Zone (SEZ) development model pro-poor, pro-equality, and pro-integration of an adaptive peaceful economy at the NKRI - RDTL boundary. The study is descriptive. The results of study show that the regional government of Belu regency has attempted to develop the NKRI-RDTL border area through the SEZ development proposal. However, the SEZ is still a discourse as it should cover Belu city area and other border areas on the island of Timor. Empowerment, training, and assistance approaches are still hampered due to the limitation of human resources, funding, and coordination. The local culture marginalizes certain aspects so that their orientation in life is far from a visionary approach, except providing the needs for survival. The focus of attention that should be well prepared, in addition to economic infrastructure, is human resources and the poverty reduction approach must be integrated to meet their basic needs such as clean water, economy, and education.