Indonesia-Australia Partnership on Food Security in Red Meat and Cattle Sector

I am proud to announce the expansion of the Skills Development Programme as cooperation under the Indonesia-Australia Partnership on Food Security in the Red Meat and Cattle Sector goes from strength to strength.

The short courses delivered under the programme have proven to be incredibly successful at strengthening the bonds between our two countries in the red meat and cattle sector.

Last year 70 Indonesians were trained in the cattle sector in Australia through short courses run by Australia Awards in Indonesia and the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association Pastoral Industry Student Programme. This year, that number will rise to 86.

Next year we will expand the number to at least 100 and we will commit at least $2 million to ensure this happens.

This demonstrates we are committed to increasing the level of cooperation with the Indonesian red meat and cattle industry, and to help in whatever ways we can to improve Indonesia's capacity in this important sector.

Past graduates of the Skills Development Programme have been highly sought after by employers in Indonesia, including by Indonesian industry and government, as well as Australian-based companies operating in Indonesia.

The programme has delivered significant and ongoing mutually beneficial outcomes for our cattle industries.

We look forward to continuing our close working relationship with the Indonesian red meat and cattle industry, and to build on this even further by strengthening our broader trading relationship through the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.