Australian Ambassador to Indonesia visits aid programs in West Nusa Tenggara

The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Greg Moriarty, is in West Nusa Tenggara to view development programs funded by the Australian Government aid program (AusAID).

“Australia is committed to working with the Government of Indonesia in West Nusa Tenggara as eastern Indonesia has some of the country’s highest rates of poverty,” said Ambassador Moriarty.

The Ambassador is visiting a school built with funding provided by AusAID. “SMPN6 Kopang is one of the 2074 junior secondary schools built by AusAID across Indonesia between 2005 and 2010. This program created 330,000 new school places in poor districts,” said Ambassador Moriarty.

While in North Lombok, the Ambassador is meeting with local people in Medana village. “AusAID’s work here is encouraging people to have a say in the way their local government is implementing the basic services they need, such as health, education and economic development,” said Ambassador Moriarty.

The Ambassador will be viewing a community centre, partly funded through Australia’s commitment to Indonesia’s national poverty reduction program. The centre serves various community activities, such as supplementary feeding to undernourished infants and pregnant women, hosts a loan program to help women start small businesses and is a playgroup.

The Ambassador will visit farming sites to learn about Australia’s support for rural development. Since 2007, Australia’s support for farmers in West Nusa Tenggara has helped increase productivity for local families.

As part of his visit to the province, the Ambassador is also inspecting the completion of more than 80kms of road restored under AusAID’s infrastructure program on the island of Sumbawa.

“This road will strengthen the important economic corridor between the cities of Sumbawa Besar and Bima, and promote economic and social development in eastern Indonesia. Approximately 1,500 vehicles per day use this road, supporting small scale economic activities including basic agriculture, fisheries and tourism,” said Ambassador Moriarty.

The Ambassador is also meeting with the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara, M. Zainul Majdi and other officials, Australian volunteers and Australian business people.

Media inquiries:
Mia Salim, Public Affairs, AusAID Indonesia, 08121070237