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  Issue Number 168, June 2018
 
In this issue
 
President's Column
AIBC Biennial Conference 2018
2018-2019 Membership Renewals
NSW Update
QLD Update
VIC Update
IndoView
 
Events
 

For a list of current events, please click here.

 

 

Phil Turtle
National President

President's Column

Dear Members and Friends,

As we reach the end of the Financial year, we are once again grateful for the support of all our Members around the country. The process of Membership renewals is well underway, and we look forward to welcoming back all our existing Members, as well as many new ones. Anyone interested in being a part of AIBC can join us here.

Also, as we enter the second half of 2018 we remain hopeful of a conclusion to IA-CEPA by the end of the year. Our Leaders and negotiators remain committed, and our Trade Ministers will again meet in the wings of the RCEP meeting in Tokyo this week. Signals are encouraging, and the AIBC remains in close contact to support the process.

AIBC’s 2018 Conference, titled “Partnering for Prosperity in a World of Change”, will soon be open for registrations. To be held at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa between 11-13 November, this Conference will be a great opportunity to network with and hear first-hand from a wide array of Business and Government leaders from both countries, as we perhaps look to the future under a brand new Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Make sure to keep these dates in your diary, and check out some of the attractions on the Gold Coast and get a preview of some of the local sights as you plan your visit.

 

Rob Delane, Deputy Director General – WA Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science & Innovation with Indonesia’s Consul General to Perth, Ibu Dewi Gustina Tobing, and WA Government Commissioner (Indonesia), Jennifer Mathews, promoting the 33rd Trade Expo Indonesia and WA’s Sister State relationship with East Java in Perth.

The AIBC is also pleased to be ramping-up its involvement in Australia’s largest mining event, the annual International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC), in Melbourne at the end of October. AIBC will be joined by National Corporate Members EMR Capital and Nusantara Resources in an exhibition booth showcasing Australian mining activity in Indonesia. The IMARC participation is part of AIBC's National Mining & Energy Group initiative and enquiries for both should be directed to its convenor, Geoffrey Gold here.

The 33rd annual Trade Expo Indonesia in Jakarta is also coming up in October, with events being held with AIBC in different cities to promote this Showcase event. Anyone with an interest to attending Trade Expo Indonesia is encouraged to register with their local Indonesian Consulate/Embassy, or with AIBC here, to keep abreast of details and any promotional benefits that may be offered.

 

Phil Turtle
National President

AIBC Biennial Conference 2018

"Partnering for Prosperity in a World of Change"

Planning is well underway for AIBC’s flagship event for 2018, the AIBC Conference to be held Nov 11-13 at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa, on Queensland’s world famous Gold Coast.

As part of our planning we are keen to hear any suggestions for topical themes and speakers, as well as from organisations keen to partner with us. Full details of sponsorship packages are available upon request.  

As preparations continue for AIBC’s Biennial Conference in November on the Gold Coast, please continue to look out for further announcements here in AIBCnews, via our AIBC National Twitter account and by following #aibc18.  We hope to see you there.

As you can see from the collected feedback from our last Conference in Perth, the event was a major success, and one we are looking to surpass.

Any enquiries can be directed to president@aibc.com.au

2018-2019 Membership Renewals

AIBC Membership Renewal Notices and accompanying Invoices for the 2018-2019 Financial Year have been sent and we are pleased to advise there will not be an increase in Membership Fees.

Membership rates for 2018-2019 will be as follows (inc GST):

  • National Corporate - $2,600.00;
  • Corporate - $1,250.00;
  • SME/Individual - $360.00;
  • Young Professionals - $100.00;
  • Student - $70.00

Should you wish to renew your Membership prior to 30 June, please click here. Should you experience any difficulty with your Membership renewal or have forgotten your password, please contact us on 1300 902 878.

AIBC would like to take this opportunity of thanking you for your continued support.

NSW Update

The NSW branch has had a surge of interest in support for the committee. While we have farewelled Matt Monkhouse, the International Director at Macquarie University who has relocated for the university to Jakarta, we have welcomed as his replacement Guy Boekenstein from NSW Govt Trade and Investment Department. Guy was previously with the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.


We have additional committee members and supporters with background in the following sectors;

  • Di Robinson - Education
  • Sam Harjono - Investment
  • Miriam Tulevski - Tourism
  • Pat Hanna - Mining
  • Francisco Widjojo - Legal and Digital
  • Warren Cross - Arts and Cultural
  • Campbell Bridge SC - Legal 

Michael Fay,
NSW Chairman

QLD Update

Meeting with Indonesian Consul General, Bapak Heru Hartanto Subolo – Brisbane

AIBC QLD Chair, Hugh Ritchie and Committee Member, Manny Mcauley meet with newly appointed Indonesian Consul General, Bapak Heru Hartanto Subolo on a recent visit to Brisbane. It was the Consul General’s first visit to Brisbane and the very fruitful discussion with the Consul General and his team promises to lead to greater opportunities for collaboration between the Sydney based Consulate and the AIBC in Queensland. 

 

AIBC Vice Chair, David Widjaja and Ms. Anne McDougall, Principal of Union Institute of Language, had a very productive meeting with Prof. Nurdin Noni of Eurolasia Training Centre, Makassar and  Pak Abdul Wahab Bangkona, Special Advisor to the Minister of Manpower, in Jakarta in relation to partnerships in the education sector between Australia and Indonesia that can lead to capacity building in skill shortage areas in Indonesia. These ongoing discussions have already led to active cooperative projects between private and public providers from both countries and will result in greater future opportunities in this sector going forward.

Prof. Nurdin Noni and Pak Abdul Wahab Bangkona, Special Advisor to the Minister of Manpower and IA-CEPA Negotiator, Jakarta


AIBC Vice Chair, David Widjaja, Ms Janelle Chapman, Executive Director, TAFE QLD International and Ms Anne McDougall, Principal, Union Institute of Language were very fortunate to meet with Allaster Cox to discuss their various cooperative education projects with Indonesia in addition to discussing the AIBC’s National Conference on the Gold Coast in November this year. Once again, the AIBC would like to thank the Post in Jakarta for its continued support of the AIBC and Australian businesses.

(L-R) AIBC Vice Chair, David Widjaja, Ms Janelle Chapman, Executive Director, TAFE QLD International and Ms Anne McDougall, Principal, Union Institute of Language

AIBC QLD Chair, Hugh Ritchie and Vice Chair, David Widjaja had a very fruitful meeting with Dr. Moch. Bukhori Muslim, Secretary General of Nadhlatul Ulama (the largest Moslem organisation in Indonesia with around 92 million members according to the latest survey). Pak Bukhori is also the Department Head for Industries, Business and Syariah Economic for National Sharia Board - Indonesia Council of Ulama. During the meeting we discussed the importance of English Proficiency and Skill Training for young Indonesian people to assist in supporting the current economic growth in Indonesia. Thank you to Ibu Fenty Forsyth for organising this great meeting.

David Widjaja, Dr. Moch. Bukhori Muslim and Hugh Ritchie 


Signing of the Australia-Indonesia Program for Sustainable Development and Climate Change

AIBC QLD Chair, Hugh Ritchie, Vice Chair, David Widjaja and AIBC Committee members Prof. Colin Brown and Greg Vickery AO were invited by Professor Caitlin Byrne, Director of Griffith Asia Institute to attend the launch of the collaborative Australia-Indonesia Program for Sustainable Development & Climate Change. Prof Ian O’Connor, Vice Chancellor and President of Griffith University opened the event which was also attended by The Honourable Rachmat Witoelar, the Indonesian President’s Special Envoy for Climate Change and newly appointed Indonesian Consul General, Bapak Heru Hartanto Subolo. This very important project and signing are the culmination of over 15 years of focus and collaboration in this area between Griffith University and the Indonesian Government.


Hugh Ritchie
QLD Chairman

 

VIC Update

AIBC Vic Education Networking Panel

With Indonesia's immense growing demand for skills training, and a desire to improve its higher education offering, the AIBC Victoria committee held an expert panel discussion this week to help members keep up-to-date with the trends in that country.

A moderated discussion was held with represtatives from the tertiary, in-country mobility, government and vocational sectors who provided insight on recent policy directions and some ideas on how to navigate the relationship and regulatory path. There were some good questions from the floor from the 40+ participants (in both the public and private sectors) who networked afterwards to chat more about some of the ideas raised.
 

Helen Brown, AIBC Victorian Vice Chair welcomes guests and introduces the panel
 

Education panel addressing the audience


Jared Heath,
VIC Chairman

IndoView

New PMA Company Establishment Procedures

In his latest article, Bill Sullivan of Christian Teo & Partners, looks at a new approach to the establishment of PMA companies.

"The new approach is likely to result in many foreign investors, in the energy, infrastructure and mining sectors, being treated differently to foreign investors in certain other sectors of the Indonesian economy when it comes to the establishment of foreign investment companies.”

To read this article in full, click here.

 

Indonesia Market Update

In their May 2018 edition of “Indonesia Market Update”, Morelink Asia Pacific provide news updates across many key sectors including the Indonesian economy, investment, trade, retail, agrifood, manufacturing, automotive, ICT and infrastructure sectors.

To read this update, click here.

 

Jokowi’s Battle for Indonesian Presidency Begins With Local Election

Indonesia’s most populous province is set to go the polls in what’s shaping up as a test of President Joko Widodo’s popularity and a potential springboard for his rivals ahead of next year’s presidential election.

More than 30 million people are expected to vote in West Java’s gubernatorial election Wednesday in a contest between two former generals, the sitting deputy governor and the provincial capital’s popular mayor. They’re part of Indonesia’s 152 million voters who will elect dozens of heads of provinces, cities and districts across the archipelago.  To continue reading the entire article, please click here.

 

Indonesian Perspectives: Economic and Security Relations with Australia
31 May 2018 Jarryd de Haan, Research Analyst, Indian Ocean Research Programme

Key Points:

  • Over the next decade, Australia may become increasingly less relevant to Indonesian economic interests.
  • The current trade relationship is skewed in Australia’s favour and Indonesia is likely to look towards other, larger, markets to counter that deficit.
  • Australia has gradually reduced the amount of foreign aid to Indonesia while, at the same time, Australian investors are deterred by the generally poor Indonesian business environment.
  • There may be an opportunity for Australia to adapt its defence exports to Indonesia’s minimum essential force needs.
  • The strongest ties lie in police-to-police links, aimed at combatting terrorism. That relationship could be used as a model for other bilateral linkages.

Summary:

As Indonesia’s economy continues to grow and its population swells, the relationship with Australia is becoming more and more asymmetric. From the Australian perspective, it presents some opportunities but, as a counterbalance, Indonesia may be seeking to engage more closely with other, larger, powers in the region. This paper will look at the current economic and security ties in that context and explore some of the possible future prospects for the bilateral relationship.  To continue reading, click here.

 

Indonesia sneaks up on Singapore with flurry of port projects - Widodo envisions a new global shipping hub on China's Belt and Road

ERWIDA MAULIA, Nikkei staff writer
June 14, 2018 09:00 JST

(Original photos by Reuters)


GRESIK, Indonesia -- It may not look like much right now, but an 1,800-hectare tract of land on the eastern edge of Java symbolizes Indonesia's future.

The site, at the entrance to the busy Madura Strait, is to host the largest industrial park in East Java -- the Java Integrated Industrial and Ports Estate. It is still mostly deserted, but construction is gaining steam. And it is just one of dozens of port projects sprouting up around the country, as President Joko Widodo pushes to turn the archipelago into a fulcrum of maritime trade.  Click here to continue reading the entire article.


The digital sun is rising in south east Asia

Donna Webster
Director of Capability Development, Asialink Business

When Indonesian online marketplace Bukalapak officially became the country’s fourth unicorn earlier this year, it was another sign of the rapid digital transformation well underway to Australia’s near north. 

Bukalapak earned its unicorn status by focussing on Indonesian farmers and small-time merchants often neglected by bigger rivals.

"Indonesia’s communications minister has already tipped that the country will have a fifth unicorn by 2019”

The tech company joined ranks alongside three other billion-dollar start-ups home grown in south east Asia’s largest economy:  Go-Jek, Traveloka and Tokopedia, bringing the total number of unicorns in the ASEAN region to seven.To continue reading this article, please click here.

 
 
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