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‘Send Them a Shipload of Rice’: Australia’s Food Aid to Indonesia, 1960s-1970s

Author

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  • Pierre van der Eng

Abstract

This paper asks why it took 10 years since a major famine in Indonesia in 1957 for Australia’s food aid to increase in greater amounts, and why food aid was so significant In Australia’s foreign aid to Indonesia during the late 1960s and 1970s. Indonesia’s reluctance to apply for food aid under the Colombo Plan is the reason for the delay. A combination of humanitarian, commercial and international relations interests converged to shape Australia’s rapidly growing food aid to Indonesia after 1966. Food aid contributed to alleviating food shortages and famines in Indonesia. It also supported Australian firms in regaining their share in the growing market for wheat-based products in Indonesia, and in building market share for Australian rice exports, in competition with US producers and the US PL480 food aid program. Food aid also allowed Australia to expand its foreign aid program to Indonesia rapidly after 1966, in support of the government of new President Soeharto and improved bilateral relations.

Suggested Citation

  • Pierre van der Eng, 2020. "‘Send Them a Shipload of Rice’: Australia’s Food Aid to Indonesia, 1960s-1970s," CEH Discussion Papers 05, Centre for Economic History, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.
    • Handle: RePEc:auu:hpaper:087
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    File URL: https://cbe.anu.edu.au/researchpapers/CEH/WP202005.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Australia; Indonesia; international relations; food supply; food aid;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid
    • N55 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - Asia including Middle East
    • N57 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - Africa; Oceania
    • O19 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - International Linkages to Development; Role of International Organizations

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