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.