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.