Indonesia launches int’l development aid fund

At the launch ceremony (Photo: Indonesian Foreign Ministry)

Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian government has launched the Indonesian Agency for International Development (AID), a fund to help reduce poverty and social inequality around the world.

The agency is a reflection of the country's stature as one of the biggest economies globally.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the programme is long overdue as Indonesia's economy has grown six times into a 1 trillion USD economy in the past two decades.

Speaking at the launch ceremony on October 18, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi described the fund as a very precious tool for Indonesian diplomacy to strengthen its presence on the international stage.

Marsudi said the AID has already provided aid for five Pacific countries – Tuvalu, Nauru, Solomon Island, Kiribati and Fiji – and for Myanmar and the Philippines.

The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and the Finance Ministry will be responsible for managing funding for the project. The AID now has 212 million USD sourced from the State budget.

According to the minister, the agency will focus on providing aid during times of natural disasters and for humanitarian crises, thus reducing poverty and social inequality between developed and developing countries as well as increase Indonesia's participation in fulfilling the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals./.