Swiss envoy inspects aid program

JAKARTA (JP): The head of the Swiss Development Cooperation Agency is currently in Indonesia to inspect a number of development projects funded by the Swiss government.

Walter Fust, the agency's director general, who is responsible for the entire Swiss development assistance and humanitarian aid program, is in Indonesia between Aug. 1 and Aug. 11, the Embassy of Switzerland in Jakarta announced yesterday.

Indonesia is one of the main recipients of Swiss aid, which has financed projects dating back to 25 years ago in such areas as vocational education and training, urban planning and development, as well as rural and community development.

The Swiss government has extended grants to Indonesia totaling over $200 million in the last 20 years, the embassy reported.

Fust is scheduled to meet with a number of Indonesian ministers and to travel to Bandung and Yogyakarta to directly inspect some of the Swiss-funded projects. (emb)