Celebrating 25 Years of Australia-Indonesia Agricultural Research Partnership

Mr Core, Mr Farmer and Mr deMeyer with Ms Nuryati who has been awarded the Australian Public Service Medal.

Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Bill Farmer, hosted a reception on 19 January 2009 to mark 25 years of involvement by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) in Indonesia.

The event was attended by key senior Indonesian partners and visiting ACIAR Chief Executive Officer Mr Peter Core, who has also travelled to Sulawesi to view ACIAR-funded projects aimed at reducing rural poverty by improving the flow of information between national research initiatives and the on-the-ground needs of farmers.

“Indonesia is ACIAR’s largest partner country, reflecting the strong levels of cooperation between our two countries over the last 25 years in the development of agriculture, fisheries and forestry in Indonesia, and in reducing poverty,” said Ambassador Farmer.

ACIAR is investing nearly A$11 million this year in projects and training activities.

During the celebrations Mr Core and Mr Farmer also acknowledged the contribution made by ACIAR Stakeholder Manager, Ms Mirah Nuryati, during her 17 years working for ACIAR in Indonesia.

Ms Nuryati has been awarded the Australian Public Service Medal for her outstanding public service in the development of collaborative agricultural research projects between Australia and Indonesia.

Link to media release

http://www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au/jakt/MR09_004.html

Media contact

ACIAR: Liz Clarke: 0404 036 892
Australian Embassy, Indonesia: Jenny Dee, Counsellor (Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2550 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175