Aussie aid for ASEAN

Aussie aid for ASEAN

BANGKOK (Reuter): Australia will provide Southeast Asian nations with A$32 million (US$24 million) over the next four years under a program to fund joint projects in the region.

About A$14 million (US$10 million) is for small-scale ventures initiated by private business, research bodies or government. The rest will be spent on energy and environment schemes, the Australian embassy said in a statement.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the end of Australia's annual ministerial talks with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Australia's economic cooperation with ASEAN began 20 years ago. ASEAN links Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei.