Aussies to give aid to RI

Aussies to give aid to RI

CANBERRA (Reuter): Australia will give A$140 million (US$100 million) in aid to Indonesia in the year to next June, Foreign Affairs Minister Gareth Evans said after meeting Indonesian officials yesterday.

"The aid program will retain a strong humanitarian focus with assistance targeted at the education, health, rural transport, power and environment sectors," Evans said in a statement.

"It will also maintain an Australian priority in eastern Indonesia. The program accords closely with Indonesian government efforts to further reduce poverty."

Australia would also provide A$150 million ($107 million) in soft loans for projects including road and railway upgrades, the minister said.

A government spokesman said yesterday's talks had resolved how the Australian money would support Indonesia's latest five-year development plan.

Indonesia is the second largest recipient of Australian aid after Papua New Guinea.