Australia Announces Funding For Climate And Infrastructure Partnerships In Indonesia Worth IDR 1.4 Trillion

President Joko Widodo (right) spoke with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before the 3rd ASEAN-Australia Summit in Jakarta, Thursday (7/9/2023). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Media Centers of the ASEAN Summit 2023/Dwi Prasetya/aww

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the second phase of the initiative of USD 150 million (approximately IDR 1.4 trillion) for the Australian-Indonesian Climate and Infrastructure Partnership which has a total value of 200 million Australian dollars.

The initiative is an addition of the first phase initiative of US$ 50 million (around Rp. 490 billion) which was announced at the Australian-Indonesian Annual Leaders Meeting in July 2023, according to a written statement from the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.

The funding for the second phase will support the establishment of a bilateral mechanism to advance collaboration in the electric vehicle ecosystem under the Partnership.

In the second phase of the initiative, Australia will contribute USD 50 million (approximately IDR 490 billion) to reduce the risk of private infrastructure projects to support Indonesia's ambition towards zero carbon.

This will help Indonesia get private sector financing for potentially high projects, as well as provide feasibility studies and environmental assessments to support project development.

In addition, Australia will also contribute 100 million Australian dollars (around Rp. 981 billion) to support Indonesia's agenda, namely sustainable finance and a just energy transition.

This consists of technical assistance, expansion of partnerships with the government, and social inclusion initiatives to ensure that women, people with disabilities, and vulnerable groups benefit from the clean energy transition.

Previously, PM Anthony attended the 3rd ASEAN-Australia Summit led by President Joko Widodo in Jakarta, Thursday (7/9), and announced a number of collaborations in Australia's partnership with ASEAN.

"I thank President Widodo for his leadership at this ASEAN summit, and I look forward to our continued cooperation to create a stable and prosperous region," said PM Anthony.

Indonesia leads the chairmanship of ASEAN 2023 with the theme ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.

PM Anthony continued, one of them is an investment in the ASEAN-CGIAR Innovate for Food Regional Program to support regional food security worth one million Australian dollars.

In addition, the expansion ofamisTAL Williams scholarships for women in the field of agricultural science for ASEAN and Timor-Leste member countries in Australia.

"It is very important for us to work closely with ASEAN in overcoming common challenges such as climate change and food security, to shape our future and region, not to wait for the future to form us," said PM Anthony.