New Zealand Ambassador talks scholarships and development with NTB Governor

New Zealand will continue to build on its historical cooperation with the Indonesian province of Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB), according to New Zealand Ambassador David Taylor and NTB Governor Muhammad Zainal Majdi, who met recently in Lombok for discussions on how New Zealand can best support the province’s development.

New Zealand has a long connection with NTB, having funded successful programmes to support ecotourism and the pottery industry, among other projects. Two of the Lombok’s important cooperative enterprises – the Mount Rinjani Trek Center and Lombok Pottery – owe their success to support from New Zealand. New Zealand has also provided PhD and masters-level scholarships to officials from the NTB provincial government.

“New Zealand has a special and longstanding partnership with Nusa Tenggara Barat. We expect future New Zealand cooperation with NTB to focus on sustainable agribusiness and the provision of scholarships,” Ambassador Taylor said.

New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Murray McCully, recently announced that the number of New Zealand Development Scholarships for Indonesia will increase from 15 up to 50 annual awards.