Jakarta, 4 June 2024: ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe and Tiffany McDonald, Australian Ambassador to ASEAN, signed a new grant agreement at the Australian Mission to ASEAN office.

The agreement provides AUD 5 million over five years, building on Australia’s ongoing support for ERIA since 2014. This support has been instrumental in advancing ERIA’s Capacity Building and Strategy and Partnership programmes within ASEAN and with international organisations.

Covering the 2024–2029 period, the new grant will focus on supporting regional economic integration in key areas such as trade, particularly the opportunities presented by free trade agreements, digital economy, energy, environment, and climate change. Additionally, gender, disability, and inclusiveness will be central to both the Capacity Building and Strategy and Partnership components.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Jeremy Gross, Director for Mekong Affairs and Capacity Building at ERIA, and Mariam Diakite, First Secretary.

This new grant signifies Australia’s continued commitment to supporting ERIA’s vital role in promoting economic development and integration in the ASEAN region.