I was very pleased to join Indonesian Vice President, His Excellency Professor Dr Boediono, today to launch the Australia-Indonesia Centre.
The Centre will strengthen Australians’ knowledge and understanding of this vitally important neighbour and will strengthen business, education and research links between the two countries.
The Australian Government will contribute $15 million towards the Centre, which will also receive support from participating institutions and the private sector.
The Centre will be based at Monash University and will initially be a partnership with the Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney and the CSIRO.
The Centre will also undertake joint research on significant issues which confront both countries, including infrastructure and food security.
Australia and Indonesia are great friends, and I hope this Centre, which I announced during my first visit to Indonesia as Prime Minister in September, will contribute to that friendship.
Along with the New Colombo Plan, the Centre is another sign of the Government’s commitment to strengthen links with Indonesia.
13 November 2013