France funds Rp 2.5b training program

JAKARTA: The Indonesian and French governments have signed a financial agreement to train 474 subdistrict officers in Aceh province in participative planning, the French Embassy in Indonesia said in a statement.

"This training is aimed at strengthening the capacities of the local government, especially in participative approaches to adopt a bottom up strategy in identifying the needs of the local population hit by tsunami," the statement said.

The signing ceremony was attended by State Minister for National Development Planning Sri Mulyani Indrawati, French Ambassador to Indonesia M. Renaud Vignal and Rectors of five Indonesian Universities including UNSYAD, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), University of Indonesia (UI), Diponegoro University (UNDIP) and Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

The French government will provide Rp 2.5 billion to support the training program, which will begin on May 23. -- JP