AIBCnews: Issue 181 - August 2019
Dear Members and Friends,
Once again there is no shortage of material to draw upon in terms of international trade, with President Trump at one stage recently calling on US companies to pull out of China, and Britain and the EU engaged in a protracted and convoluted Brexit “dance”.
In our own backyard though our countries take control of the things we can, with RCEP officials meeting in Jakarta to advance that important Agreement, as IA-CEPA progresses through the ratification process in front of the Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee for Treaties. Our Prime Minister also visited Vietnam, with talks on Free Trade Agreements, and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese visited Jakarta on his first overseas trip in his role, reinforcing the importance of Indonesia to Australia, and the close relationship with Indonesia shared by both sides of our Parliament. Joining Mr Albanese were Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong and NT MP Luke Gosling, with Mr Gosling penning his own opinion piece on the relationship between our countries.
In this issue of AIBCnews, we launch “IA-CEPA Corner” to capture important developments as we track towards IA-CEPA ratification and entry into force, with these processes concluded hopefully early in 2020.
Apart from the great opportunities that will unfold under IA-CEPA, Indonesia’s President has announced the final location of the new capital to a site in East Kalimantan, with a project of this scope already attracting interest from around the world to be part of this exciting initiative. Australia and Australian businesses are well placed to play a key role too, with world-class expertise in urban design, infrastructure, smart cities, transportation, education, healthcare and so forth, and would be best served to secure seats at the table early, with AIBC of course making good use of its networks to help unlock such opportunity for its Members.
(Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham headlined a recent AIBC Event in his home city of Adelaide (pictured L-R Anne Moroney, CEO Regional Development Australia Barossa Inc.; Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment; Jim McMillan, Immediate past Chair AIBC SA; The Hon Jing Lee MLC, Assistant Minister to the Premier, Multicultural Affairs, Department of the Premier and Cabinet; Dom Cosentino, PKF Managing Partner; Amalia Sosrodiredjo, AIBC SA Chair; Robert Chong, MD Commodore Trading)
In the month of August, AIBC conducted Annual General Meetings for its Chapters in the capitals of all 8 Australian States and Territories, with a number of our serving Chairs (National Board Members) finishing their terms, and new Chairs elected. AIBC extends warm thanks to these dedicated volunteers leaving their roles, Jim McMillan (SA), Julia Scott (WA), and Michael Fay (NSW), who have contributed so much to advancing the trade and investment, and people-to-people, links between our countries. We also make welcome newly elected Chairs, Amalia Sosrodiredjo (SA), Prerana Mehta (ACT) and Nick Alexander (NSW), and wish them well as they commence their terms and join the AIBC’s National Board. To continue reading this edition of AIBCnews, please click here.
