Media Release
31 October 2024
Australian Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia Gita Kamath visited Manokwari, West Papua Province and Sorong, Southwest Papua Province on 27-31 October 2024.
Deputy Ambassador Kamath, together with the Australian Consul- General based in Makassar, Todd Dias, met the Acting Governor of West Papua Province, Drs. Ali Baham Temongmere in Manokwari to discuss how Australia and Indonesia are working together for better development planning.
“Just two weeks ago I was in Aceh and now I am here on my second visit to Sorong and my first to Manokwari, meeting with local government and development partners,” said Deputy Ambassador Kamath. “It has been a pleasure to see firsthand the work we are doing here in partnership with Indonesia.”
The delegation met the Rector of Papua University, academics, and students to talk about Australian scholarships, exchange programs and research opportunities. She also hosted dinners for Australian alumni in Sorong and Manokwari and met Fandy Dawenan, recipient of the 2024 Australian Alumni Award for Promoting Women’s Empowerment and Social Inclusion.
In Sorong, Deputy Ambassador Kamath visited a primary school to observe the impacts of Australian support for early grade learning through UNICEF. The delegation then travelled to Malaumkarta village to meet with researchers and locals working on integrating local knowledge into climate change adaptation and resilience.
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