Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser Visits Indonesia

Andrew Fraser, Treasurer of Queensland and Minister for State Development and Trade is visiting Indonesia this week to promote deeper trade, showcase Queensland expertise in geothermal energy, mining technology and share knowledge about tropical regions.

Indonesia is Queensland’s largest non-coal export destination, and the sixth-biggest export market overall. “Trade underpins the strong and growing relationship between Indonesia and the state of Queensland and we would like to see stronger ties,” said Mr Fraser.

The Queensland Government supports the introduction of the latest mining technology to Indonesia. Twelve Queensland companies will demonstrate their technological capabilities at the Queensland Geothermal Forum and the Mining Technology Showcases at the Mulia hotel being held today. Technologies include geothermal energy, mining in high rainfall areas, mining safety and the environmental protection in mining regions.

Minister Fraser’s visit comes in response to a visit by Dr Darwin Saleh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, to Brisbane in March 2010. “I am pleased to respond Dr Saleh’s call for cooperation when he visited my office in Brisbane last year by announcing the planned training of 10 Indonesian mine safety inspectors in Queensland this year,” says Mr Fraser.

The State of Queensland has enjoyed long and friendly relations with Indonesia. In the 1990’s Queensland formed a Sister-State MoU with the Central Java Province. The city of Semarang in Central Java also signed a similar arrangement with the city of Brisbane.

In 2005, the Queensland government contributed to the tsunami relief effort for Aceh by funding the pre-feasibility studies of the Seulawah Agam Geothermal Power Project in Aceh. Completed in 2007, this study had contributed positively to the development of this project.

Indonesia, like Queensland, has a large area with a tropical climate. The state has developed Queensland Tropical Expertise- a range of initiatives in education, research and development related to challenges faced by tropical regions. For example, Queensland is leading the world in dengue fever mitigation research and development. “We welcome Indonesian students and researchers who would like to come here to study and gain the Tropical Expertise knowledge,” Mr Fraser said.

Recently, Tourism Queensland's global marketing campaign offered $1 million in incentive travel experiences as the ultimate reward for one lucky company – the Million Dollar Memo. Of the 148 entries from around the world, five were from Indonesia. While it’s too late to enter now (the competition closed on 1 May), anyone can vote for their favourite video entry in a “People’s Choice” category via www.milliondollarmemo.com.

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Ray Marcelo, Counsellor (Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2550 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175