Details

Date: Wednesday 6 March 2019
Time: 9:30 for 10:00–11:00 (followed by morning tea)
Venue: Theatrette – NSW Parliament House, 6 Macquarie St, Sydney

Speakers

Mr Neven Mimica
European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development

Senator the Hon Anne Ruston
Federal Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific

About

With about half a million EU citizens in four territories and close historic and economic links between the EU and the Pacific countries, the EU is the third largest donor to the region, after Australia and Japan, with funding for the region amounting to €900 million for 2014-2020. In 2018, the EU started negotiating a new partnership agreement with Pacific island countries, seeking to deepen its engagement with the Pacific region. The EU expects to team up more with Australia on foreign aid development cooperation projects. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also announced new initiatives aimed at addressing the infrastructure needs of the region, including the creation of a $2 billion Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific, which will use grant funding combined with loans to finance high priority infrastructure; and a $1 billion increase in callable capital to Efic, Australia’s export financing agency, to support investments in the region.

On the occasion of his visit to Sydney, Commissioner Mimica will participate in a Forum with Assistant Minister Anne Ruston to engage on joint opportunities and EU-Australia collaboration with the Pacific. Formal remarks will be followed by an expert panel discussion which will aim to address infrastructure needs in the Pacific, and opportunities for businesses.

Download event flyer

Contact

Registration: projects@eabc.com.au
Enquiries: Miguel Alegre on +61 (0)2 8272 0600