Indonesia pledges $US 20m to Pacific Islands Development Forum

Indonesian  President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono  has pledgedUS20m  to the Pacific Islands Development Forum, affirming its commitment to broaden its network of co-operation in mitigating the impact of climate change, Fiji Times report.

The Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is in Fiji attending Pacific Islands Development Forum.  He said countries such as Indonesia and Pacific Island states were prone to natural disasters.

"Therefore, strengthening cooperation in disaster mitigation and management is important," he said. "In the next five years, and in our collective efforts to effectively respond to aforementioned common challenges, Indonesia will offer various capacity building programs. "We intend to allocate a modest funding of $US20m for the Pacific Island countries."

He said Indonesia was committed to boost connectivity with the South Pacific region to overcome the challenge of distance.

"Therefore, Indonesia had involved Pacific Island countries in the discussion of connectivity within APEC during Indonesia's chairmanship last year."