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Australia and Africa: a New Commitment

Australia is committed to broadening and deepening its relations with Africa. In his Africa Day speech on 25 May 2009, Foreign Minister Smith identified three priorities for engagement:

Australia has taken important steps toward these goals since Minister Smith announced Australia's new commitment to Africa on 29 January 2009 during his visit to Ethiopia.

Trade and investment

Australia's trade with Africa has grown steadily over the last decade, at an annual average of over 8 per cent. Australia's total merchandise trade with Africa was valued at $6.7 billion in 2008.

More than 300 Australian minerals and petroleum resources companies are active throughout Africa, with existing and prospective investments estimated at up to US$20 billion.

Nearly 9000 African students are currently at Australian schools, colleges and universities, and many Australians live and work in Africa.

Development cooperation

Australia is developing a new strategy for development assistance to Africa. Australia has increased its development assistance funding for Africa by over 40 per cent to an estimated $165.2 million in 2009-10. Africa is benefiting from Australia's commitment to increase its aid program to 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income by 2015-16.

Australia's support for Africa will help make progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, with a particular emphasis on maternal and child health, food security and water and sanitation.

By 2013, Australia will offer up to 1,000 scholarships across Africa, including in food security, natural resource management, maternal and child health, and water and sanitation.

Peace and security

Australia has participated in many peacekeeping missions in Africa. Australian personnel are currently serving in the UN Mission in Sudan and the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur. Australia also makes a major financial contribution to UN missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, the Central African Republic and Chad.

Visiting Ethopia in February 2009, Australia's Defence Minister announced new Defence African engagement initiatives including a resident Defence Attaché, training in Australia for military officers nominated by the African Union, and a symposium on peacekeeping co-hosted by the African Union, the United Nations and Australia in Africa in 2009.

Australia is providing $17.2 million in technical assistance to help African governments develop forensic investigation capabilities for transnational crime investigations, develop operational capacity to detect the laundering of major crime proceeds, and strengthen legal frameworks and capacity.

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