Phil Turtle
National President

President's Column

Dear Members and Friends,

It has been another busy month for Australia-Indonesia relations, with the IABC Conference in Surabaya, Round 10 of IA-CEPA Negotiations in Jakarta, the Indonesia Australia Business Summit 2017 in Adelaide, and the release of the Australian Government’s 2017 Foreign Policy Whitepaper.

Firstly I would like to congratulate our sister organization, the Indonesia Australia Business Council (IABC) for a successful forum in Surabaya, East Java, in early November. Around a theme of “Making it Happen – Getting Trade & Investment Moving”, this brought together business and government leaders in Indonesia’s second largest city, and home of Australia’s newest Consulate General in Indonesia.

We were pleased to see a strong contingent from Australia, including with the participation of Hon. Keith Pitt MP, Assistant Minister for Trade, together with Hon. Chris Bowen MP and Hon. Jason Clare MP, Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment respectively. Mr Pitt’s conference speech can be found here, and the Conference presentations here.

The Conference was also an opportunity for our organisations to recognize Ambassador Paul Grigson, who concludes his posting this year. We thank Paul for his support through his term, and look forward to welcoming his successor soon.

Moving to IA-CEPA, the tenth round of negotiations for the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was held in Jakarta from 13-17th November.

From what we see, Australia and Indonesia have made significant progress on the text of the agreement, with an agreed text on almost all issues within sight. Notwithstanding, Market access remains challenging, and our countries continue to explore options that lead to a mutually advantageous agreement that meets the interests of securing a commercially meaningful outcome.  A further round of negotiations will be held in Jakarta from 4-8 December, and we are hopeful the IA-CEPA may yet be concluded by the end of the year.

Tom Lembong, Chairman of the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), addressing the Indonesia Australia Business Summit 2017 in Adelaide

This week Adelaide played host to the Indonesia Australia Business Summit 2017. Congratulations to Ambassador Kristiarto Legowo and his Embassy for a well run and successful event. Chairman of the BKPM, Tom Lembong, headlined an impressive VIP list who addressed the forum, including the Governor of South Australia, H.E. the Hon. Hieu Van Le AC, Hon. Martin Hamilton-Smith MP, SA Minister for Trade & Investment, The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Martin Haese, and Governors from Aceh, West Sumatra and South Sulawesi Provinces. A series of vibrant panel sessions, focussing on a range of industry sectors rounded out a full day of valuable exchange.

Also this month the Australian Government released its 2017 Foreign Policy Whitepaper. Unsurprisingly Indonesia features prominently throughout this document, and the deepening of economic ties with Indonesia and the conclusion of IA-CEPA are highlighted as key priorities.
 

Phil Turtle
National President

NSW Update

AIBC & AIYA NSW "End of Year Wrap"

AIBC and AIYA NSW extend an invitation to our members to attend a "Member Only End of Year Wrap" to be held on Thursday, 7th December. The event is an opportunity for members to network, reflect on this year’s developments in Australia-Indonesia relations, and discuss the year ahead. Members of the Executive Committee of each organisation will also give brief remarks.

AIBC NSW Chair Michael Fay will also give a brief wrap on the IABC Conference held in Surabaya in early November.

Please click here to register for this event.

AIBC & AIYA NSW would like to thank Macquarie University for hosting this event:

Michael Fay
NSW Chairman

QLD Update

TAFE QLD/TIQ VET Conference in Jakarta

On the 30/10 TAFE Qld International, TIQ and a small number of associated Qld education providers hosted a 2 day information conference in Jakarta for both Public and Private VET sector representatives. The conference, with the AIBC Qld represented by Hugh Ritchie and David Widjaja was oversubscribed with all parties taking a lot away from the presentations and general VET sector discussion.  In addition the event also included a reception at the Australian Embassy that was well attended by both Indonesian and Australian conference participants. The success of the Austrade/AIBC Indonesia Now Seminar Series came up a number of times in discussion as having been a great success.
 

Indonesian Ambassador’s Roundtable

On the 02/11 His Excellency Mr. Yohanes Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo together with the AIBC Qld hosted a roundtable at TAFE Qld’s Southbank Campus to discuss Vocational Training (VET) surrounding IA-CEPA. The 5 hour session included showcasing success stories, presentations from various senior Indonesian and Australian VET and IA-CEPA representatives, a networking lunch and general Roundtable discussions. Lead IA-CEPA Negotiators Ms. Trudi Whitbreuk and various senior Indonesian IA-CEPA negotiators attended along with major VET industry players, AIBC and government representatives. The event focused on VET opportunities that will arise from conclusion of the IA-CEPA scheduled later this year. 30-40 guests attended the Roundtable and the event was a great success.

Hugh Ritchie
QLD Chairman

SA Update

Christmas Networking Function
 

The Australia Indonesia Business Council will host an end of year Christmas Networking Function on Thursday 7th December 2017 at the Glasshouse Hotel, 13 Gouger Street between 5:00 pm-7:00 pm.

This is a good opportunity for you to catch up with others who are engaged with Indonesia. Please feel free to bring along with you colleagues or anyone else interested in business contacts with Indonesia.

The event is complimentary to Members and Guests.  Canapes will be served and your first drink (wine/beer/soft drink) is complimentary.In order to assist with catering numbers, please click here to register for this event by Tuesday 5th December.

We look forward to welcoming you to this event.
 

Jim McMillan
SA Chairman

VIC Update

Welcome for Indonesia's Ambassador to Australia and Farewell for VIC and Tasmania's Consul General

On Wednesday 15 November 2017 a large crowd of AIBC members and friends gathered to welcome Indonesia’s new Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Dr Yohanes Kristiarto Legowo, to his first AIBC Victoria event.  Ambassador Legowo is a long-standing friend of Australia and served as Deputy Chief of Mission in the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra from 2004-2007.  Ambassador Legowo commended the role and work of the AIBC and said he welcome the chance to work with the AIBC to continue to strengthen business-to-business and people-to-people links.  More broadly, Ambassador Legowo expressed confidence that co-operation and collaboration would overcome both complacency and challenges in the bilateral relationship.

The event was also an opportunity to bid farewell and acknowledge Indonesia’s Consult General to Victoria and Tasmania, Ibu Dewi Savitri Wahab.  Ibu Dewi has served as Consul General for over three years and been a great friend and supporter of the AIBC.  We also farewelled and thanked the Vice Consul for Economic Affairs, Ibu Banga Malewa, who has also been a friend of and worked closely with the AIBC on many events.  AIBC Victoria is very grateful to have enjoyed such a close relationship with the Indonesian Consulate for Victoria and Tasmania.  Both Ibu Dewi and Ibu Banga return to Jakarta in early 2018 and we look forward to meeting and working with their successors.

H.E. Dr Yohanes Kristiarto Legowo addresses the audience

VIC and Tasmania's Consul General, Ibu Dewi Savitri Wahab

Jared Heath
VIC Chairman

WA Update

AIBC WA Networking Sundowner

The AIBC held a very interesting event where the Consul General for Bali, Dr Helena Studdert and Mr Rainer Heufers, Executive Director, Centre for Indonesian Policy Studies followed by an excellent Q&A. Dr Studdert focussed on the opportunities beyond Bali in her region in particular with collaboration opportunities in hospitality, VET sector, creative industries and digital start ups.

Rainer Heufers spoke about policy making within the food sector in particular and the implications for the development of Indonesia.This was an excellent presentation that demonstrated links between import policies and beef pricing and what the center for Indonesian policy studies are doing in their advocacy role to improve the situation for importers but also for the Indonesian people.

The event was attended by 25 people and completed with an opportunity to socialise between the members and guests who attended.

Dr Helena Studdert addresses the audience

Rainer Heufers presents to guests

AIBC YP WA Event

G+T Perth hosted the Australia Indonesia Business Council and the Australia Institute of International Affairs for a panel discussion exploring how young professionals from all backgrounds can use innovation and entrepreneurialism to make a positive impact in the global community. The panellists were Alicia Curtis, Stephanie Arrowsmith, Jeffrey Effendi and Mark Stickells (moderator).

The event was very well attended from a whole variety of backgrounds and professions. 53 people attended. So we saw many people that we hadn’t previously met or hadn’t attended any AIBC events before. For Julia Scott, Deputy Chair, AIBC WA this was the biggest highlight – to draw in a whole new crowd of people and potential new AIBC members.  If you would like to join the young professionals network at AIBC or AIIA, click here for AIBC and here for AIIA.

Julia Scott, AIBC WA Vice Chair pictured with Alicia Curtis, Stephanie Arrowsmith, Jeffrey Effendi and Mark Stickells.
 

Todd Peate
WA Chairman

ASEAN - Australia Special Summit

In March 2018, Leaders from all 10 ASEAN nations will be welcomed to Sydney for an unprecedented ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. Prime Minister Turnbull initiated the Summit at the first ASEAN-Australia dialogue, where he observed, “A special summit in Australia would deepen our economic partnerships through closer links between ASEAN businesses and the private sector and bolster our strategic partnership.”

AIBC is working together with various groups involved in the Summit, as Indonesia of course is central to ASEAN, with Jakarta being home of the ASEAN Secretariat. Furthermore, a key focus of AIBC has been to encourage the establishment or regional supply-chains taking advantage of the strengths of various countries, notably Australia and Indonesia, to help meet the goods and services needs of a large part of the global economy. Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo is also expected to play a key role at this forum.

The website for the Summit is now active here, and contains preliminary information on the various aspects of the Summit.

Registrations for the SME Conference component are now open here.

Indonesia Now 2017 - Wrap Up

Those who attended the recent "Indonesia Now 2017" series of events around the country, can expect to be hearing directly from our event partners at Austrade.

Again the series was particularly successful, and will be followed by other collaborations over coming months.

Thanks once more to Senior Trade Commissioner Sally-Ann Watts, Chris Bandy and Dr Matthew Durban for their support.

Some summary information and key contact points from the events can be found click here.

IndoView

Freeport Indonesia CoW Renegotiations

In his latest article, Bill Sullivan of Christian Teo & Partners, looks at progress in the Freeport Indonesia Contract of Work renegotiations.

"The Government has been quick to make much of what was apparently achieved in recent discussions with Freeport regarding the ongoing renegotiation of Freeport Indonesia’s Contract of Work.

A 29 August Press Release from the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources indicates that all major issues, in connection with the Freeport Indonesia Contract of Work renegotiations, have been finally resolved and it now remains only to complete the documentation for the agreement reached and obtain certain approvals.

The 29 August Press Release is, however, almost certainly a major overstatement of the actual position if subsequent developments are any guide."

To read this article in full, click here.

Indonesia Market Update

In their October 2017 edition of “Indonesia Market Update”, Morelink Asia Pacific provide news updates across many key sectors including the Indonesian economy, trade, investment, agrifood and automotive sectors.

To read this update, click here.