Indonesia, Australia Explore Environmental Cooperation

JAKARTA, Apr 3 (Antara) - The Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney and Australia are exploring environmental cooperation through the Byron Bay Indonesia Forum (BBIF), according to a statement from the Consulate General in Sydney received by Antara here, Saturday. The first BBIF, held on March 31, 2017, under the theme "Art, Culture, Education and Environment Australia-Indonesia 2017," was opened by Indonesian Consul General in Sydney Yayan G.H. Mulyana. "BBIF has paved the way and has built a foundation for a more solid form of cooperation between Indonesia and Australia, especially at the sub-national level and beyond Sydney. Inter-city diplomacy can become an important pillar for the overall relations and cooperation between Indonesia and Australia," the consul general noted during a speech at the BBIF. The BBIF was attended by several prominent Australian speakers, such as environmental visual artist John Dahlsen, marine ecologist Mary Gardner, green tourism expert Jeremy Holmes, plastic waste solution expert Sasha Mainsbridge, and environmental expert Mike White. BBIF is a joint initiative of the Australia-Indonesia Arya Alliance, chaired by an Indonesian Judy Shelley and the Consulate General in Sydney. BBIF also received complete support from Byron Bay Mayor Simon Richardson. Matters related to the environment and cultural arts discussed at the BBIF are in line with the vision of Byron Bay that has long been giving significant attention to environmental and socio-cultural issues. Byron Bay is a small coastal town that has several experts in the fields of environment, marine ecology, and cultural arts. The BBIF is one of the flagship programs of the Consulate General in Sydney to explore potential cooperation in various fields with small towns in the regions of New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia. These towns have excelled in the areas of agriculture, green technology, livability, education, as well as arts and culture.