AIBCnews Issue 170: August-September 2018

Dear Members and Friends,

This month gone past has seen a new Prime Minister and Trade Minister sworn in after a tumultuous fortnight in Australian politics. Fresh in these new roles, both made their way to Jakarta in recent days to announce that negotiations on the long-awaited Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(IA-CEPA) have been concluded.

This visit in itself is quite a remarkable achievement, but coming together with the announcement on IA-CEPA and that of a broader Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the future of our mutual relationship has surely taken several significant steps forward.

Prime Minister Hon Scott Morrison MP together with HE President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in formal and less formal situations at the Bogor Palace, one of 6 Presidential Palaces of Indonesia

I had the privilege of representing AIBC in Jakarta during the visit, and attended the major Indonesia Australia Business Forum, which was filled to beyond capacity. In attendance were many key business and government figures deeply involved in the relationship, and the overwhelming sentiment was strongly positive about the IA-CEPA and the prospects for better days ahead in our Trade and Investment relationship.  To continue reading the entire Newsletter, please click here.