Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne’s Visit to Bangladesh

DHAKA, Sept. 2 (NsNewsWire) — Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne will visit Bangladesh from 3 to 5 September to attend a ministerial meeting of the
Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and meet with Bangladesh Government leaders.
As an island continent, Australia recognises the importance of ocean health for economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
At the IORA Blue Economy Ministerial Conference, Minister Payne will highlight strategies for creating environmentally sustainable marine-based industries including fishing, aquaculture, tourism, shipping, oil and gas.
Minister Payne will announce the establishment of the IORA Blue Carbon Hub, an Australian initiative located at the University of Western Australia in Perth and managed by CSIRO. The
Hub aims to promote the health of blue carbon ecosystems – mangroves, tidal marshes and
seagrasses – to promote coastal protection, food security and sustainable livelihoods.
Minister Payne will travel to Cox’s Bazar where Australia has been a leading donor in
providing humanitarian assistance for more than 900,000 displaced Rohingya and host
communities in Bangladesh.
This assistance includes counselling and medical services to women and girls who have
experienced violence, supplying basic food and nutrition – particularly for children under five
and breastfeeding women, and providing clean water, shelter and primary healthcare.
Minister Payne’s discussions with Bangladesh Government leaders will focus on countering
violent extremism, growing trade and investment links, promoting the Australian education
sector, and addressing the Rohingya crisis.
This will be the first visit to Bangladesh by an Australian Foreign Minister since 1998 and
first by a Cabinet Minister since 2006. press release