Australia and NTT Strengthen Health, Food Security and Illegal Fishing Cooperation

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, visited Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) from 9-10 September to strengthen cooperation with the province, particularly in the area of health, food security and joint efforts to combat illegal fishing.

“Australia is looking forward to working with the newly elected governor, Frans Lebu Raya, and is committed to supporting NTT’s economic development,” Mr Farmer said.

Mr Farmer launched the first stage of a new A$49 million maternal and neonatal health program that aims to significantly reduce the number of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth.

“This four-year program will increase access to trained midwives during pregnancy and childbirth, improve management of maternal and neonatal health services and increase funding for community level support for mothers and children,” Mr Farmer said.

Australia is committed to working with Indonesia to lower malnutrition rates and maternal and child mortality rates by 2015.

Mr. Farmer also highlighted Australia’s recent A$ 6.5 million contribution to the World Food Programme’s Nutrition Rehabilitation Program to improve food security and fight malnutrition in NTT and NTB.

“This two-year program will benefit around 350,000 children and mothers and provides capacity building at the local government level in food security analysis, surveillance and disaster preparedness,” the Ambassador said.

Mr Farmer also attended the provincial Government’s launch of its public expenditure analysis report, part of the NTT Government’s efforts to better serve the community through improved public financial management and better service delivery to the poor.

At the request of the provincial Government, Australia assisted in carrying out the public expenditure analysis and has offered to provide future assistance in capacity building.

Mr Farmer also inspected the Australian Customs vessel Triton and a Customs Coastwatch surveillance aircraft visiting Kupang this week as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation to combat the threat of illegal fishing.

The Triton and Coastwatch visit was coordinated by Australian Customs and Australia's Border Protection Command (BPC) to enhance radio communication facilities between Australian and Indonesian patrol vessels and to provide operational training for Indonesian fisheries patrol boat crews.

This is the second time Triton has visited an Indonesian port following a visit to Tual in July this year and co-ordinated Australian and Indonesian patrols, including an inaugural visit by two Indonesian fisheries patrol vessels to Darwin, in April 2008.

Media enquiries:
Fiona Hoggart (Australian Embassy) tel. (021) 2550 5260 mob. 0811 187 3175