Australia announces increased aid to Bangladesh in 2011-12
The Australian Government will provide an estimated $A 92 million (710 crore taka) in official development assistance to Bangladesh in 2011-12, an increase of $A 22 million from the previous year.
The decision was made as part of the Australian Government’s announcement of its 2011-12 national budget which was released in Canberra earlier this week.
The Australian High Commissioner Dr Justin Lee welcomed the announcement. He said “This increase in aid funding emphasises Australia’s long- term commitment to cooperate with Bangladesh to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development. Australia has now almost trebled its development assistance to Bangladesh since 2006-07.”
Managed by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Australia’s aid program in Bangladesh will retain a strong focus on improving health care and primary education and expand Australia’s support for reducing extreme poverty and strengthening resilience to natural disasters and climate change.
The increase in Australian assistance reflects Australia’s ongoing commitment to scale up its development assistance program to .05 per cent of Gross National Income by 2015-16.
The Australian Government remains committed to ensuring that every dollar spent on aid in Bangladesh has the maximum impact on poverty and economic development.
Australian High Commission, Dhaka
12 May 2011
For further information please contact:
Senior Research and Communications Officer, AHC Dhaka
Tel: 8813105 (497), Mobile: 01711 880205
E-mail: [email protected]