News

AIBCnews - Issue 166: April 2018

 

Dear Members and Friends,

Once again this month proved that in our “new normal”, there’s never a dull moment in the world of International Trade. Having unceremoniously dumped the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in January, President Trump is now actively considering for the US to rejoin what has become TPP 11.

For our own IA-CEPA, negotiators continue to meet and hope to resolve some so-far troublesome issues. Indonesia’s Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, is certainly optimistic and pressing for a conclusion this year, and all involved with Trade and Investment between our countries, would hope this optimism is warranted and rewarded. The IA-CEPA has now been some time in the making, and it would be disappointing for it to fall-short despite the journey it has been on.

In the background though a number of initiatives are underway that promise to improve the situation for foreign investors in Indonesia, including a revision of the working visa system to give two years instead of six months, continued effort for a one stop shop licensing system across Indonesia for business, and a drive to allow 100% foreign ownership of universities (a regulation is in progress). In the University sector, whilst there is some way to go to realise this opening up, it would be an opportunity lost if Australian Universities were not poised to take “first mover advantage”.


 

“Winning in Indonesia” web event by Telstra/telkomtelstra. L-R Kevin Cryan (Austrade), Erik Meijer (telkomtelstra), Phil Turtle (AIBC) with moderator Peter Fray (UTS)


Recently AIBC was delighted to partner with Telstra and telkomtelstra on a widely viewed web event, with the theme of “Winning in Indonesia” and how businesses can best prepare themselves for success. I was delighted to have the opportunity to participate in this event, alongside telkomtelstra President Director Erik Meijer, as well as Kevin Cryan, Senior Investment Specialist, Services & Technology with Austrade.

To continue reading the April edition, please click here.

NATIONAL CORPORATE MEMBERS AND PARTNERS