MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce today the launch of the Australian Development
Gateway. Australia is the first OECD nation to produce such a portal.
The Australian Development Gateway is one of the many 'country' gateways
being established around the world within the framework of the Development
Gateway Foundation. This is a not- for- profit organisation based in Washington
DC. Its aim is the world-wide sharing of information and knowledge on
sustainable development and poverty reduction.
Australia is a founding member of the Foundation and is contributing $10
million over three years in support of it.
The new website will enable developing countries to access links to
Australian organisations involved in the three important areas of education,
health and agriculture.
By logging onto www.developmentgateway.com.au users will be able to take
advantage of a wealth of Australian expertise offered by a range of selected
leading organisations and institutions.
These include the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research,
the Australian Council for Educational Research, Education Network Australia and
the National Office for the Information Economy. Over time new knowledge
partners and topics, including access to material on governance, will be added
to the Gateway. On line data and training will also be offered.
The Australian Gateway is one of a range of activities being undertaken as
part of the innovative and important Virtual Colombo Plan. In August last year,
I launched the Plan together with James Wolfensohn, President of the World
Bank.
The Virtual Colombo Plan is a joint effort by Australia and the World Bank to
bridge the growing gap between countries that are information-rich and those
that are information-poor, through the use of new technologies. Australia is
contributing $200 million over five years to the project and the World Bank $1.3
billion.
The production of this Gateway is a significant element of the Virtual
Colombo Plan and demonstrates Australia's commitment to using new technologies
to delivering development assistance.
Contacts
Chris Kenny (Ministerial) 0419 206 890
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 0412 804 489