MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
South Australian based companies continue to win a big share of contracts
under the Australian government's overseas aid program.
So far this year, South Australian companies had been awarded aid contracts
worth $77 million, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Chris
Gallus, said today.
Adelaide-based SAGRIC International Pty Ltd has won three contracts worth
nearly $50 million to implement programs for the Australian Agency for
International Development (AusAID).
In Indonesia, SAGRIC is developing a $25 million program over six years to
improve the quality of teaching and learning in the first three years of primary
school, initially in Flores.
The program will give selected primary school teachers extensive additional
training to enable them to become demonstration teachers in other schools.
SAGRIC won a second contract to increase Indonesian capacity to provide
effective maternal neonatal health and family planning services in selected
provinces. This poject runs for five years at a cost of $20.6 million.
The company has also been awarded a $2.7 million contract to design a program
to strengthen the criminal justice system in Cambodia.
'These latest contracts bring to 24 the number SAGRIC now holds, representing
a combined total worth of about $311 million' Mrs Gallus said.
'URS Asia Pacific, also based in South Australia, holds more than $50 million
worth of contracts with AusAID and Halliburton KBR Pty Ltd just over $19
million.
Mrs Gallus said other smaller contractors, also based in South Australia,
were either directly contracted by AusAID or acted as sub-contractors to larger
firms implementing aid projects.
'On average, South Australian based firms win about 18 percent of new work
tendered each year,' Mrs Gallus said.
'This is a good indication of the high level of expertise available within
the state in the field of development assistance and it also represents a
significant number of jobs.
'It is a win both for developing countries and for South Australia' Mrs
Gallus said.
Contacts:
Craig Bildstien (Office of Mrs Gallus) 0407 604 437
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 / 0412 804 489