AusAID helps public sector institutions

AusAID helps public sector institutions

JAKARTA (JP): The Australian government's development
assistance agency, AusAID, officially launched on Tuesday a A$5.5
million technical assistance package for Indonesia to help
improve the country's public sector institutions.

The Australia Indonesia Technical Assistance Management
Facility (TAMF) involves transfer of skills from Australian
experts and advisors to Indonesian government officials through
on-the-job training in Indonesian and Australian government
offices.

"It will also involve short-term placement of Indonesian
government officials in the departments and agencies of the
Australian government," TAMF Jakarta manager Geoff Forrester said
at the launching of the aid package.

The above picture shows Australian Ambassador to Indonesia
John McCarthy (center) and noted economist Sri Mulyani Indrawati
(left) and the vice chairman of the National Development Planning
Board (Bapenas) Djunaedi Hadisumarto discussing the aid package
after the launching ceremony.

Forrester said funds from the two-year program also would be
used to sponsor relevant seminars and workshops in Indonesia.

"TAMF is concrete evidence of the willingness of the
Australian government to provide practical, effective support for
the economic reform agenda of the Indonesian government,"
McCarthy said during the ceremony.

TAMF, already in operation for nine weeks, has helped the
Ministry of Finance in its preparations for the decentralization
of the central government to the provincial regions.

AusAID said the package also would assist the Ministry of
Justice, Ministry of Manpower, Capital Market Supervisory Agency,
a debt restructuring team in the central bank, the Supreme Audit
board and the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency.

Sri Mulyani said Indonesia needed not only the disbursement of
the fund commitment but more importantly to witness real changes
from its use. (udi)