Queensland wants RI priority aid recipient

Queensland wants RI priority aid recipient

BRISBANE, Australia (AP): Australia should target its aid program on Indonesia and the Philippines among countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Queensland government said Friday.

"Highest priority should be placed on Indonesia," said a submission presented to an inquiry into the development of ASEAN as a regional association and Australia's relationship with it.

According to the submission, substantial commercial opportunities would result from Indonesia's continued economic development.

It said considerable poverty still existed in much of Indonesia and there was also a strategic necessity to ensure the relationship between Australia and Indonesia developed smoothly.

The submission to the joint standing committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade, said there were advantages for Australia if it gave the Philippines greater attention within the aid program.

"The Philippines is of strategic importance and has the potential to be a strong ally of Australia," it said.

The government said it will open a trade and investment office in Jakarta next month, which will house representatives from several Queensland Government agencies.

A representative office will also be established in Semarang, central Java.

In 1995-96, exports to ASEAN represented more than 10 percent of Queensland's total exports and between 1991-1992 and last financial year, the value of Queensland's exports to ASEAN increased by 114 percent, the submission said.

It said Queensland recognized the economies of ASEAN were more important to Australia than the economy of Australia was to ASEAN.

"While exports to ASEAN represented 15.5 percent of total Australian exports in 1995-96, in 1994 ASEAN's exports to Australia/New Zealand represents only 1.15 percent of total ASEAN exports," the submission said.