VP starts his Australia visit

DENPASAR: Vice President Boediono left for a visit to Australia on Wednesday to attend meetings in three cities: Perth, Canberra and Sydney.

“The Vice President is scheduled to attend events, including accepting the doctoral honoris causa from the University of Western Australia,” Boediono’s spokesman, Yopie Hidayat, said as quoted by kompas.com during transit at Ngurah Rai International Airport on Wednesday.

Boediono is also expected to participate in a conference organized by Australian think tank “The Zone” as a keynote speaker.

“The Vice President will deliver a speech on Indonesia’s economic growth and the impact on Southeast Asia and Asia’s growth,” Yopie said.

Other events include a visit to a tidal wave energy technology center in Perth, a meeting with West Australia Governor Kim Hames, a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan and a gathering with the Indonesian community of Australia at Indonesian Embassy in Canberra.

A meeting with the Australian business community in Sydney is scheduled for March 12, he added. — JP