Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

POSCO Group Devotes Its Full Resources to Support Busan's Bid for World Expo 2030

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 16, 2023

POSCO Group harnesses available resources, including domestic and international facilities, media, and advertising, to actively promote the attraction of World Expo 2030.

Key Points: 
  • POSCO Group harnesses available resources, including domestic and international facilities, media, and advertising, to actively promote the attraction of World Expo 2030.
  • Furthermore, POSCO Group has transformed its facilities located in various countries worldwide into launchpads for garnering support and interest from local residents for Busan World Expo 2030.
  • The group has been promoting Korea's bid for World Expo 2030 not only to local residents but also to international visitors.
  • These advertisements showcased POSCO Group's efforts to lead humanity towards a sustainable future and included a message of support for Busan World Expo 2030.

POSCO Group Devotes Its Full Resources to Support Busan's Bid for World Expo 2030

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 16, 2023

POSCO Group harnesses available resources, including domestic and international facilities, media, and advertising, to actively promote the attraction of World Expo 2030.

Key Points: 
  • POSCO Group harnesses available resources, including domestic and international facilities, media, and advertising, to actively promote the attraction of World Expo 2030.
  • Furthermore, POSCO Group has transformed its facilities located in various countries worldwide into launchpads for garnering support and interest from local residents for Busan World Expo 2030.
  • The group has been promoting Korea's bid for World Expo 2030 not only to local residents but also to international visitors.
  • These advertisements showcased POSCO Group's efforts to lead humanity towards a sustainable future and included a message of support for Busan World Expo 2030.

Australian foreign policy is traditionally hitched to the US – but the rise of China requires a middle path for a middle power

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 31, 2023

Few nation-states have been shaped by their underlying physical geography and location in the world quite as much as Australia.

Key Points: 
  • Few nation-states have been shaped by their underlying physical geography and location in the world quite as much as Australia.
  • The traditional way Australia’s leaders have dealt with the pervasive sense of vulnerability that geographic isolation engendered was to ingratiate themselves with “great and powerful friends”.
  • The contentious decisions to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and manufacture US missiles
    have only entrenched Australia in America’s anti-China alliance.
  • Read more:
    The AUKUS pact, born in secrecy, will have huge implications for Australia and the region

Regionalism with American characteristics

    • China has not been an aggressive power hitherto, and it is far from certain it is going to be in the future.
    • The US, by contrast, has been at war with someone somewhere for more than 90% of its history as an independent nation.
    • When Asia’s peace has been upended, it has been because of American intervention.
    • At times, Jackson argues, America acts as an “aloof hegemon”, whose actions are “incidental to the course of events”.
    • As the so-called “Asian miracle” demonstrated, regional stability also paved the way for widespread, state-led economic development, which eventually included China.

(Not) coming to terms with China

    • The rather optimistic subtitle of Engaging China is “How Australia can lead the way again”.
    • Sceptics may be forgiven for asking: when was the first time Australia played a leadership role in regional affairs?
    • While the benefits of globalisation and trade interdependence may have been overstated at times, there is no doubt Australia has benefited from its economic relationship with China.
    • Consequently, James Laurenceson and Weihuan Zhou argue that “deploying public policy to reduce trade exposure to China struggles as a coherent strategy”.

Cold War journalism 2.0

    • Part of that explanation is what Wanning Sun calls “Cold War journalism 2.0”.
    • There has, indeed, been no shortage of irresponsible, evidence-free “red alerts” suggesting that a “direct attack on our mainland” could happen within three years.
    • And yet there is an even more alarming explanation for the complete absence of real debate amongst Australia’s policymaking elites.
    • totally sidelined in Canberra, losing out to the weight of advice and opinion from the intelligence and security agencies.

Changing course and re-engaging?

    • And yet, in theory if not practice, the logic of “strategic outsourcing” cuts both ways.
    • Significantly, even some Canberra insiders now recognise the dangers of being strategically isolated as a consequence of our reflexive fealty to the US.
    • After all, that is what the much invoked but seldom seen rules-based international order is supposed to be about, isn’t it?

Hawkeye 360 Working With the Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency for Greater Maritime Visibility in the Pacific Islands

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 6, 2023

HERNDON, Va., July 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HawkEye 360 Inc., the world's leading defense technology company for space-based radio frequency (RF) data and analytics, announced today it has been awarded a contract by the Commonwealth of Australia for a pilot program to provide greater maritime domain awareness in support of Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) efforts to detect and prevent Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The contract was awarded by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for the provision of HawkEye 360's satellite RF maritime analytics and training through 2023.

Key Points: 
  • The contract was awarded by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for the provision of HawkEye 360's satellite RF maritime analytics and training through 2023.
  • "The Pacific Islands encompass a vast and highly trafficked region with rich fisheries resources that present complex challenges for maritime domain awareness," said Alex Fox, Chief Growth Officer for HawkEye 360.
  • HawkEye 360 is proud to support Australia and the IPMDA in their efforts to promote stability and prosperity in the region through shared maritime domain awareness.
  • For more information on the HawkEye 360 satellite constellation, please visit https://www.he360.com/ .

Women's World Banking Brings Making Finance Work for Women Summit to Mumbai

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

MUMBAI, India, May 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Women's World Banking, a global leader in advancing financial inclusion for low-income women across the world, is bringing the Making Finance Work for Women Summit to Mumbai, India on 24-25 May 2023. Convening for the first time in person since 2019, the Making Finance Work for Women Summit will provide a space for over 300 leaders in the financial services, investor, philanthropy, policy, and technology communities to come together and discuss innovative ways to economically empower all women through financial inclusion.

Key Points: 
  • MUMBAI, India, May 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Women's World Banking, a global leader in advancing financial inclusion for low-income women across the world, is bringing the Making Finance Work for Women Summit to Mumbai, India on 24-25 May 2023.
  • The Making Finance Work for Women Summit is one of the ways Women's World Banking is trying to close the gender gap in financial services.
  • Women's World Banking is excited to bring back the Fintech Innovation Challenge as a part of this year's Making Finance Work for Women Summit programming.
  • The Making Finance Work for Women Summit is presented by Women's World Banking with support from Leading Sponsor, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Scaling Sponsor Ernst & Young (EY US).

Women's World Banking Brings Making Finance Work for Women Summit to Mumbai

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

MUMBAI, India, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Women's World Banking, a global leader in advancing financial inclusion for low-income women across the world, is bringing the Making Finance Work for Women Summit to Mumbai, India on 24-25 May 2023. Convening for the first time in person since 2019, the Making Finance Work for Women Summit will provide a space for over 300 leaders in the financial services, investor, philanthropy, policy, and technology communities to come together and discuss innovative ways to economically empower all women through financial inclusion.

Key Points: 
  • MUMBAI, India, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Women's World Banking, a global leader in advancing financial inclusion for low-income women across the world, is bringing the Making Finance Work for Women Summit to Mumbai, India on 24-25 May 2023.
  • The Making Finance Work for Women Summit is one of the ways Women's World Banking is trying to close the gender gap in financial services.
  • Women's World Banking is excited to bring back the Fintech Innovation Challenge as a part of this year's Making Finance Work for Women Summit programming.
  • The Making Finance Work for Women Summit is presented by Women's World Banking with support from Leading Sponsor, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Scaling Sponsor Ernst & Young (EY US).

After years of decline, the budget gives more money for diplomacy and development capability. What does this mean in practice?

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 11, 2023

The Defence Strategic Review – the key planning document for defence policy – recommended more funding for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Key Points: 
  • The Defence Strategic Review – the key planning document for defence policy – recommended more funding for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
  • This is part of an increasing understanding in policy circles that defence needs diplomacy and development.
  • After years of decrying the lack of investment in Australia’s diplomacy and development, it’s a positive to see some improvement.

What will the funding be used for?

    • The increase in funding will be used for measures like “maintaining support for an effective foreign service” (code for keeping the department running) and increased diplomatic engagement with Southeast Asia.
    • While leading the Lowy Institute, he worked with colleagues to chart Australia’s diplomatic deficit and disrepair.
    • The review seems to have led directly to the budget investment in lifting DFAT’s strategic communications capability and improving communications networks.
    • Consultations by the Development Intelligence Lab think tank identified development capability as a major hindrance to Australia’s development program.
    • It will be used to invest in people, skills and expertise to ensure Australia’s development program can meet the needs of priorities of partner countries.

Penny Wong said this week national power comes from 'our people'. Are we ignoring this most vital resource?

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 18, 2023

During her speech at the National Press Club this week, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong argued that the “unprecedented” circumstances our region faces “require a response of unprecedented coordination and ambition in our statecraft”. Wong identified many key tools of Australia’s statecraft: Importantly, Wong also also observed that “our national power, more than anything else, comes from our people”.

Key Points: 


During her speech at the National Press Club this week, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong argued that the “unprecedented” circumstances our region faces “require a response of unprecedented coordination and ambition in our statecraft”. Wong identified many key tools of Australia’s statecraft:

  • Importantly, Wong also also observed that “our national power, more than anything else, comes from our people”.
  • Yet, she noted, the number of Australian diplomats working in the Pacific had actually shrunk under the previous government.

What is statecraft?


    Statecraft is a word increasingly used by leaders, officials and commentators to describe the actions that states take to try to influence:
    • Many believe that, to earn the most influence, Australia’s tools of statecraft should come with big price tags and flashy announcements.
    • In the Pacific, for instance, the government is fond of announcing big pledges of developmental aid, infrastructure projects and military assistance.

Diplomats are not all the same

    • The past openings of Australian-funded facilities become their announcements, even though the person in the social media thumbnail is not same as the one in the commemorative photos.
    • Officially, foreign policy is as emotionless and cut-and-paste as these official Twitter accounts.
    • It is as if Australian foreign policy officials are grown from pods in the basement of the R.G.
    • But this reality attracts surprisingly little attention in much of the analysis that is done on the effectiveness of Australia’s statecraft.

Why kindness and empathy matter

    • This is why we’re studying the role individuals play in implementing Australian statecraft in the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste.
    • It is the kiss of death to a project if an individual is arrogant or patronising or somehow offends their hosts.
    • Read more:
      Despite its Pacific 'step-up', Australia is still not listening to the region, new research shows

Roads and mobile networks only go so far

    • Australia can build roads, train police, buy telcos and build submarines, but if the people representing the country and implementing its policies aren’t polite, respectful and trustworthy, then it might as well not bother.
    • This activity was supported by the Australian Government through a grant by the Australian Department of Defence.
    • The views expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Australian Government or the Australian Department of Defence.

Travelling overseas? Here's what the embassy will – and won't – do to help if you get in trouble

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, April 15, 2023

The numbers are still below pre-pandemic levels, but almost 1.1 million Australians left the country in December last year – compared to 1.3 million in December 2019.

Key Points: 
  • The numbers are still below pre-pandemic levels, but almost 1.1 million Australians left the country in December last year – compared to 1.3 million in December 2019.
  • International travel is a safe, positive experience for most people, but unfortunately things do go wrong for some travellers.
  • Trouble, when it comes, can involve anything from lost passports and small-scale theft to serious welfare problems, hospitalisation and arrests.

Travellers behaving badly

    • These were serious situations requiring intensive work from our diplomats, but there is much more to the job than that.
    • COVID-related repatriations arranged by DFAT were counted separately – there were more than 62,000 of these in the past three years.
    • But expectations have grown among travellers in recent decades, partly because of the speed of our communications and the instant public feedback we receive via social media.
    • While most Australians are self-reliant travellers, there are still many not living up to their side of the bargain.
    • This was the case for Sean Turnell, who was imprisoned in Myanmar for political reasons until being released last year.

Three ways to stay safe

    • The conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere have impacted many travellers, as have major weather events and natural disasters.
    • Travellers once again need to look to their own resources – or their travel insurance policies – to ensure they get home.
    • 2) Stay in touch with family back home The consular service deals with hundreds of “whereabouts” inquiries each year.
    • Read more:
      Relief as Australian Sean Turnell to be released from prison in Myanmar, but more needs to be done

Jacqui De Lacy Named Abt Associates' Chief Global Development Officer

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, January 7, 2023

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Jacqui De Lacy has been named Abt Associates' Chief Global Development Officer, a new role on Abt's Executive Leadership Team. She will lead Abt's diverse portfolio of health, governance, climate and environment, economic growth, digital, and equity programs in more than 50 countries. She will be responsible for promoting synergies, sustainable growth, technical quality, efficient operations, and value for global clients and stakeholders.

Key Points: 
  • Jacqui De Lacy has been named Abt Associates' Chief Global Development Officer, a new role on Abt's Executive Leadership Team.
  • ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Jacqui De Lacy has been named Abt Associates' Chief Global Development Officer, a new role on Abt's Executive Leadership Team.
  • Jacqui joined Abt in 2014 and has led our Australia and Britain practices for the past three years.
  • "Jacqui will play a key role in Abt's five-year strategy to harness the full strength of Abt's work in international development around the world," said Abt President and Chief Executive Officer Kathleen Flanagan.