Queensland and Central Java Boost Their Sister State Links

Australia and Indonesia have strengthened their trade and economic ties with a reaffirmed deal between Australia’s northern eastern state, Queensland and Central Java Province.

Announcing a new bilateral Memorandum of Understanding, Queensland’s Premier and State Minister for Trade, Mr Peter Beattie, said Queensland and Central Java had reaffirmed their long-standing sister state relationship by extending the link for another five years.

The new memorandum was signed at Parliament House in Brisbane this week, by Mr Beattie and Central Java’s Vice-Governor, Mr H. Ali Mufiz.

Mr Beattie said the new arrangements would cover agribusiness and food, urban and regional development, road and transport infrastructure, trade and investment, education and training and tourism industry development.

“The Memorandum sets out a comprehensive agenda that is achievable in the five-year time frame,” he said.

“Indonesia is an important trading partner for Queensland. In 2005-06 our total exports to Indonesia were worth $807.6 million or 2.3 per cent of Queensland total merchandise exports.

"The Sister State relationship, which was first signed in September 1991, provides a strong basis for expanding the trade relationship,” he added.

The Queensland Premier said the agreement had also helped foster close ties between Queensland institutions and organisations and their counterparts in Central Java.

“One excellent example was the Health Professionals Exchange Program between the Order of the Sisters of Mercy in Queensland and the Provincial Health Office in Java. It resulted in the ongoing exchange of doctors and nurses between the Brisbane Mater Hospital and the Dr. Kariadi Hospital in Semarang.

Mr Beattie said that when an earthquake struck Central Java last year, Queensland responded with a Livelihood Sustainability Project in four communities which helped about 1,000 people recover financially.

He said Indonesia also remained an important education market for Queensland and the new Memorandum of Understanding aimed to facilitate intensive English language courses for teachers from Central Java.

“There are also a number of university research projects which have been developed as a direct result of the Sister State agreement," he said.

Further information:
John Williams (Counsellor Public Affairs) Tel. (021) 2553 5290 mob. 0812 1053 989