MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Smith
Australia will provide up to AUD 2.5 billion (21.25 trillion rupiah) over the next five years to Indonesia to tackle poverty and assist it to achieve its social and economic development priorities.
Indonesia is Australia's largest development assistance partner.
Australia is committed to working in partnership with Indonesia to meet its Millennium Development Goals and create a better life for the poorest people in Indonesia.
Indonesia is taking significant steps to achieve its Millennium Development Goals, particularly to reduce poverty and ensure all young Indonesians have access to primary education.
One of the flagship projects of our partnership is the AUD 328 million (2.79 trillion rupiah) initiative to improve hundreds of kilometres of national roads and bridges in 10 provinces across eastern Indonesia.
Tenders will be called during August so construction can commence on the first of the 25 road projects.
Roads are vital for economic and social development, giving farmers access to markets, linking communities to essential services such as schools and health clinics, and encouraging investment.
Education is another area where our partnership is going from strength to strength.
Under the Australia-Indonesia Basic Education Program, Australia is providing funding to assist Indonesia build or expand 2000 junior secondary schools.
Tomorrow (Tuesday, 12 August 2008) I will join Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr Hassan Wirajuda on a visit to South Sulawesi where we will open an Australian-supported school to mark 1,000 schools that have been built or are under construction.
This is the mid-point in a project to build or expand 2,000 junior secondary state and Islamic schools to give young Indonesians access to better quality education and better prospects for the future.
Australia's support is assisting the Government of Indonesia to achieve its goal that all Indonesian children will have nine years of basic education.