Australia grants $8.1m for water

JAKARTA: The Australian government has donated US$8.1million to support Indonesia's nationwide clean water and sanitation project.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia David Ritchie said in a statement on Wednesday that the grant expressed Australia's seriousness in supporting Indonesia and hoped that the aid could benefit thousands of people.

The grant is part of the World Bank's Water and Sanitation program that has helped the country's districts in developing infrastructure for clean water over the past three decades.

Minister counselor Robin Davies represented Australia in the handing-over ceremony on Wednesday, while Indonesia was represented by Suyono Dikun, deputy for infrastructure of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas). --JP