Phil Turtle
National President

President's Column

Dear Members and Friends,

Welcome to the first edition of AIBCnews for 2018.

As we get underway in the New Year, we look forward to a vibrant year ahead and the hopeful conclusion of IA-CEPA negotiations. This Agreement, whilst delayed, remains a key priority for our governments, and we wish both negotiating teams well as they work through the remaining issues.

As highlighted earlier, AIBC and its partners in the Indonesia-Australia Business Partnership Group (IA-BPG) provided unprecedented input as to what IA-CEPA could aspire to, and we encourage our representatives to continue to strive for an Agreement that will genuinely redefine our current Trade and Investment relationship. That is the standard that the business communities in both countries have come together to define, and what they will be expecting to see, with time taken less critical than the outcomes.

Any who may be interested to review the submissions of AIBC and the IA-BPG can find them here.

IA-BPG Members officially handing over “Two Neighbours – Partners in Prosperity” Report – Jakarta August 2016.

For our Members around the country, our Chapters in all States and Territories are embarking on a program of events, tailored to the needs and interests of their local business communities. Your support and input to these events is always appreciated, and we look forward to welcoming you to an AIBC event soon.

Through 2018 AIBC also looks forward to launching a range of fresh initiatives, and to expanding its collaborations with other organisations working to enhance the Australia-Indonesia relationship. More news on these developments will follow over coming editions.

Phil Turtle
National President

Professor David T. Hill AM - New Beginnings

A dear friend and long-time member of AIBC, Professor David T. Hill AM has announced his retirement, having founded then led the Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies (ACICIS) for 24 years.

David has built a long and distinguished career, and has made a very significant personal contribution to the Australia-Indonesia relationship, being recognised for this both through his Order of Australia Award in 2015 and his selection in 2014 as a “Presidential Friend of Indonesia” during the presidency of H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Over the years David has touched the lives on many young people, many of who now serve in important roles strengthening bilateral ties in business and government.

David has been a tireless and vocal advocate of Indonesian language studies, and is described as “one of the towering figures of Indonesian studies in Australia”, and has said that “Leading ACICIS has been the most satisfying achievement of my professional life”.

We wish David all the best as he winds down to enjoy his very well earned retirement.

Read the full Media Release on David’s retirement here.

NSW Update

Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM/IIPC Sydney), in collaboration with Embassy of The Republic of Indonesia in Canberra, Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Sydney, and Indonesia Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) Sydney, would like to invite you to join a Business Forum and Matchmaking with Indonesian Businesses/SMEs.

“Unfolding Business Opportunities with Indonesian Businesses/SMEs”

Date:           Friday 9th February 2018
Venue:        Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney
Time:           09:00 am - 12:00 pm   
RSVP:         Please click here to register your attendance

Cost:           Complimentary

This forum aims to introduce and share information about trade and investment opportunities as well as business matching between Indonesian and Australian Businesses/SMEs. There will be keynote addresses from H.E. Indonesian Ambassador for Australia and Director for Business Empowerment, Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).  To view the Agenda and further information on the forum, please click here.

Supported by:

Michael Fay
NSW Chairman

SA Update

AIBC's SA Chairman, Jim McMillan attended a dinner hosted by the SA Governor (Hon. Hieu Van Le) in honour of a delegation from West Java led by the Governor of West Java, H.E. Ahmad Heryawan.  The delegation's visit to Adelaide is part of an on-going dialogue between the Governments of South Australia and West Java.

Jim McMillan
SA Chairman

VIC Update

International Women's Day 2018

The business chambers and business councils of International Chamber House warmly invite you to attend our annual International Women's Day Forum and High Tea, with a complimentary glass of champagne on arrival.

This year's theme is:  'Entrepreneurial spirit in international businesses'.

An in-depth, moderated panel discussion will allow guests to learn about our three outstanding panellists and how they have reached senior roles in vastly different organisations.  Panellists will also share their advice regarding the promotion of diversity and how this stands to bring about broader benefits.

Join us to celebrate the achievements of women in the business world this International Women's Day 2018.  

Guest Panellists include:

• Holly Ransom, CEO Emergent;
• Lydia Khalil, Director Arcana Partners and Research Fellow, Lowy Institute;
• Sarah Chibnall, Group Director - Communicaitons, Health & Happiness Group, Swisse Wellness

Moderator:

• Frank Ribuot, CEO Ranstad Australia/NZ & India

Please click here for further details and registration.

Hosted in collaboration with the following business chambers and business councils:

Jared Heath
VIC 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.

IndoView

Update on Contract of Work Renegotiations

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

"The long running Contract of Work renegotiations have taken an unexpected turn, with the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources refusing to process and review the 2018 Work Plans & Budgets of certain Contract of Work holders that have not yet finalized their renegotiations.

The Ministry has also announced that, commencing in 2018, it will not provide any services to certain Contract of Work holders that have not signed Amendment Agreements with the Government.

It would seem that the Contract of Work renegotiations have, quite suddenly, gone from bad to worse and, possibly, beyond for at least certain Contract of Work holders."

To read this article in full, click here.
 

Indonesia Market Update

In their December 2017 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.