Jennifer Mathews
National President

President's Column

Dear AIBC Members and Friends,

It’s been another busy year for AIBC, and as we approach the end of 2024, I am pleased to say that our membership remains strong with new members joining from a wide range of industries.  

A highlight for 2024, and a focus for this newsletter, was AIBC’s highly successful National Conference held in Sydney from 11-13 November.  

With the theme “Invested Australia/Indonesia:The Time is now/Sekarang Waktunya”, the Conference brought together over 250 delegates from across Australia and Indonesia to discuss opportunities for strengthening two way trade and investment.  

As the first conference of its kind following the inauguration of President Prabowo, and his new government, the Conference provided delegates with an update on Indonesia’s social and economic transformation, focussing on key industry sectors: Healthcare, Education, Resources and Energy, Agriculture and Food, the Digital Economy, Investment and Infrastructure and the Visitor Economy.  Through an Industry Showcase, delegates heard from businesses, highlighting their factors for success and strategies for overcoming roadblocks. Delegates also had an opportunity to provide input as part of a series of industry roundtables.  

Feedback on the Conference has been overwhelmingly positive, with many describing it as a milestone event in promoting business relations between our two countries. 

Throughout the year, AIBC continued to support the implementation of initiatives under the Government’s “Invested: Australia’s Southeast Economic Strategy to 2040.”   This included participating in the ASEAN Australia Special Summit held in Melbourne in March; the inaugural Australian Digital Tech Mission to Indonesia “Partnering for a Digital Future” in June, and the SEA Education/Skills Mission to Indonesia and Vietnam in September.   

AIBC held national webinars on the Indonesian elections and the digital transformation, ensuring that members were kept up to date with contemporary trends in Indonesia.  In addition, AIBC’s State Chapters held a range of networking events, aimed at providing up-to-date market intelligence and connections.   AIBC’s Industry Groups (Healthcare; Mining and Energy; Agriculture and Food; Education, Skills and Training and Investment, Finance and Infrastructure) continued to provide a valuable industry sector focus for our membership and stakeholders.  

As part of our advocacy efforts, AIBC has been actively engaging with Government on key issues of interest to members, including the revision of the EMDG Guidelines, the IA-CEPA Skills Development Exchange; expediting Indonesian import permits for Australian agribusiness and food products as well as making a formal submission in relation to the Government’s SEA Economic Strategy.  AIBC has also continued to advocate on the need for ongoing reforms to visa requirements to facilitate tourism and skilled migration from Indonesia.  

To support its agenda, AIBC maintained a strong network of stakeholders and partners, including DFAT, Austrade, State Governments, Industry Chambers, Asialink, the Australia Indonesia Centre, NAILA, AIYEP, and many others.   AIBC also values its key partnerships with the Indonesian Embassy and Consulates throughout Australia, and thanks them for their collaboration and support.

I would also like to make special mention of our sister state organisation, IABC, and outgoing President George Marantika who has been a great friend of AIBC and a valued partner. We wish him well for the future.  AIBC also extends a warm welcome to incoming IABC President Mariam Kartikatresni and her newly appointed board and looks forward to working with them to advance Australia Indonesia business connections. 

I would also like to offer a special thanks to AIBC Industry Chairs, Chapter Chairs, along with National Vice President, Judy Anderson, and outgoing National Treasurer Akun Novriani.  A very big thank you to Executive Officer Rosemary Guyatt, and to Company Secretary Eric de Haas, who provide such capable support to the organisation. 

We would like to thank each of you as members for your continued support and for the work you do to advance the Australia-Indonesia bilateral relationship through your own businesses and other activities.  If you are not yet a member, please join! 

Finally, AIBC wishes you and your families a safe and enjoyable festive season and a happy new year.

Salam Hangat

Jennifer Mathews
National President

The Ambassadors and the AIBC, IABC Presidents

Dr Siswo Pramono, Jennifer Mathews, Mariam Kartikatresni, Penny Williams PSM

AIBC 2024 National Conference

The Australia Indonesia Business Council was delighted to welcome delegates from across Australian and Indonesia to  our National Conference in Sydney from 11-13 November 2024. 

Building on the Australian Government’s ‘Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040’, aimed at deepening economic and trade engagement with the region, the theme of this year’s AIBC National Conference was: Invested: Australia-Indonesia I The Time is Now! / Sekarang Waktunya!  Take a look at the comprehensive program.

Extract from The Asia Society Monthly Briefing 

by Greg Earl

Indonesia Business Special

Going for growth: Australian officials are embracing new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s bullish economic growth commitments as the latest carrot to boost Australian investment in the country.

Assistant investment minister Tim Ayres, Ambassador Penny Williams, and Business Champion Jennifer Westacott each talked up Indonesia’s possible stepped-up growth outlook of eight per cent year as they addressed the Australia Indonesia Business Council annual conference in Sydney.

In the latest in an emerging suite of documents following up Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, Westacott describes Indonesia’s growth trajectory as “compelling” and dramatically different to the 1990s. Invested: Indonesia to 2040 follows the Albanese government’s recent stocktake on what it has done since the report headed by investment banker Nicholas Moore was released last year.

Westacott, the former Business Council of Australia chief executive and current Western Sydney University (WSU) chancellor, says that since taking on the Indonesia Business champion job she has been impressed by the opportunities in Indonesia and the ways government doors are open to joint investment in both countries.

Williams told the conference the entry to Indonesia by Deakin University and WSU had been relatively quick following in the footsteps of Monash University in a demonstration of how new Australian businesses could smooth the way for others. “Business needed to spread the word of what is happening in Indonesia now,” she said. Williams said the new president’s priorities were clear including on the need to achieve more engagement with Australia and he would be wanting to review progress after 100 days.

Indonesian ambassador to Australia Siswo Pramono urged Australian businesses to look at the Prabowo priorities and the opportunity sectors in the Invested report to find the sweet spot for seeking new opportunities.

But the embrace of the bullish Prabowo growth outlook, which is questioned by some economists, was striking through the conference with Westacott declaring the growth projection would make Indonesia a $10 trillion economy compared with $3 trillion for Australia. “I say to companies, where will your growth come from if it doesn’t come from here,” she said.

Westacott said Indonesia had recently taken dramatic steps to open up its health care system to foreign ownership, expatriate doctors, and imported medicines compared with its previous insular approach. “It wants to strop people going to Singapore and Malaysia and that’s a real opportunity for centres of excellence,” she said of the Australian model where large teaching hospitals were linked up with universities.

AIBC Healthcare Group chair Jeff Parker said the reappointment of former healthcare minister Budi Sadikan to the job in the new government was an unusual development which underlined a sense of continuity which would accelerate reform. He said Indonesia had realistic but still ambitious healthcare reform plans and was open to foreign participation. This was driven by the idea that improving healthcare capability was critical to driving economic development.

Paul Bartlett, director of the Katalis program linked to implementing the bilateral trade agreement, emphasised how Indonesia had now established two healthcare special economic zones focussed on medical tourism and healthcare education which would provide a new more liberal environment for foreign investors to healthcare business projects.

Read more here

Welcome to the Conference at NSW Government House

Digital panel

AIBC Conference 2024: Spotlight on Indonesia’s Digital Economy

The 2024 AIBC Conference showcased Indonesia’s dynamic digital economy, bringing together industry leaders and innovators to explore its challenges and opportunities. As Indonesia’s digital market continues to evolve, the conference provided a platform for insights into investment, ecosystem building, and innovation, highlighting its position as a digital powerhouse in Southeast Asia.

Faye Wongso (Kumpul) emphasized the vibrant yet complex nature of Indonesia's tech landscape, dubbing it a "jungle" for investors. She stressed the need for grassroots innovation, particularly outside Jakarta, to nurture startups and support women in tech. Wongso highlighted digital platforms as pivotal for improving financing access, especially for women-led small businesses.

Armina Rosenberg addressed barriers to Australian investment in Indonesia's digital economy, citing cultural and market nuances as critical factors for success. She advocated for better understanding of B2B and B2C opportunities and identified DFAT’s introduction of Australian fintech companies to the Indonesian market as a significant step in bridging investment gaps.

Aditya Kamath (Argor) shared Argor's approach to affordable innovation, focusing on low-cost digital solutions tailored to Indonesia's price-sensitive market. He detailed how transaction-based revenue models drive success, particularly in rural aquaculture, while emphasizing the integration of local payment methods to enhance financial inclusion for small businesses.

Tom Maynard (Amplify) discussed Indonesia’s thriving creator economy and its intersection with social commerce. Amplify’s strategies leverage Indonesia’s cultural diversity and embrace trends like live commerce and mobile gaming, areas where Australia lags behind. Maynard urged Australian businesses to draw inspiration from Indonesia’s digital innovations.

The conference underscored Indonesia’s potential as a fertile ground for investment, innovation, and collaboration, with immense opportunities for Australian companies to engage with its fast-growing digital economy.

Education panel

The Education and Skills Training panel focus was on the key considerations in establishing Australian university campuses in Indonesia. We were honored to have Western Sydney University Surabaya, Deakin University Bandung and Central Queensland University Kalimantan provide an update plus the rationale for their targeted locations and the process they went through.

The panel also welcomed the new President of IABC Indonesia, Mariam Kartikatresni to the discussion. This was a timely perspective given Mariam's long background in Indonesian international education and experience in representing Australian education partners.

With more Australian universities and skills training providers showing interest in Indonesia, the AIBC Education and Training Industry Group looks forward to working closely with our members and IABC on key challenges and opportunities for expanding  two way trade in education services.

Panel L-R: Michael Fay, John Molony, Linda Taylor, Pierre Viljoen, mariam Kartikatresni

Investment & Infrastructure panel

Tuesday afternoon’s Investment/Infrastructure Panel, moderated by EY Partner and vice-chair of AIBC’s Investment, Finance and Infrastructure Committee, Darrin Grimsey, delved into the opportunities and roadblocks for investors in Indonesia. With expert insights from Stephen Skulley (Austrade), Haryo Sedewo (IIPC), Danny Latham (Igneo Infrastructure Partners), Sarah Chompasail (Export Finance Australia), Simon Nicholls (Pacific Partnerships) and Safiah Moore (ARUP), delegates benefitted from a range of perspectives - governments, investors, lenders, developers and consultants. The key conclusions drawn where that whilst all parties brought different perspectives and objectives to opportunities, there was common ground in understanding the immense scale of new opportunities for Australian investors in Indonesia, but also much work to be done to continue to remove roadblocks and unlock these opportunities.

Healthcare panel

At the highly successful AIBC National Conference in November, the Healthcare Group organised and held the Healthcare session with the theme of Investing in healthcare services - focusing on workforce development, quality and productivity.

The session featured high-profile speakers:

Bapak Dante Saksono Harbuwono: Vice Minister of Health, Republic of Indonesia, representing Bapak Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Health

Prof Jennifer Westacott AO: Australian Business Champion for Indonesia; and Chancellor, Western Sydney University

Paul Bartlett: Director, ECP Katalis (IA-CEPA)

Benjamin Cass: President Director, Living Well Seniors Communities

Jeff Parker: Chairman, Healthcare Group for AIBC; and Managing Director, JP Consulting

Moderated by Helen Brown: Communications and Outreach Lead, The Australia-Indonesia Centre (AIC)

A report on the session is currently being finalised and will be distributed to Group members soon. If you’re not in the Group and would like to know more, please contact the Chairman, Jeff Parker at healthcare@aibc.com.au

The Group was also pleased to support a side event to the Conference that was a soft launch of an important new program that will see Indonesian nurses upskilled and provided the opportunity to obtain an Australian visa and to work in an Australian aged care provider as a personal care assistant. Details available here: Post | LinkedIn

During his fourth trip to Jakarta this year, Jeff attended the International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group (IPMG) Stakeholders Forum 2024 on December 12 representing the AIBC. In the Forum, IPMG presented a Manifesto for action, which the Indonesian Health Minister, Bapak Budi Gunadi Sadikin endorsed and agreed to support.

Health Ministry

Bapak Dante Saksono Harbuwono: Vice Minister of Health, Republic of Indonesia, presenting his opening remarks on Indonesia’s health system transformation program

Visitor economy panel

There was a rich discussion among the panellists on how to grow visits between Australia and Indonesia and adapt successfully to rapid changes in the sector in the post-COVID era.

They discussed how to diversify visitor destinations beyond Bali and Sydney, in the context of changing visitor demands and the impact of digital disruption on the industry. Continued investment by governments and businesses in digital branding, aviation connectivity, human resource capability, accommodation, and streamlined visa processing will all be necessary drivers to future sustainable growth: bringing more visitors to more places in both countries.

Panel L-R: Karen Bolinger, Widya Listyowulan, Scott Boyes, Erin Moylan, Trudy Witbreuk

Food and Agriculture panel

A knowledgeable panel comprising Troy Setter (Consolidated Pastoral), Dr. Mila Bristow (Horticulture Innovation) and Michael Samsir (Indonesian Food Entrepreneur), moderated by Garry Embleton took an entertaining dive into matters of food security, the Indonesian nutritious meals program, red tape, market access, mutual recognition, opportunities for growth, trade history, crystal ball gazing and more.  Under the “fire side chat” model, the panel noted that indeed with Indonesia, The Time is Now.  The engagement of the big audience was greatly appreciated by the panel, with around 10 questions from the floor explored in detail and plenty of one on one conversations by interested participants after the session.  A big thank you from Garry to the panel and everyone that participated.

Energy Transition panel

Geoffrey Gold of Gold Communications highlighted Australia and Indonesia as key players in minerals and energy production facing challenges and opportunities in being part of, and assisting, the rapid energy transition to net zero emissions decreed by governments. He identified both a conservative transition from coal to alternative energy, and bilateral cooperation, including reciprocity, in finding, extracting, and processing minerals critical for new energy technologies, as the basis for a stable and secure energy future for both countries.

Mrs Eva Djauhari of ARKO Law Jakarta discussed Indonesia's efforts to reduce carbon emissions by increasing renewable energy. While coal currently dominates, the government aims to boost renewables to 23% by 2025, focusing on solar, wind, and geothermal energy. She noted opportunities for Indonesian-Australian collaboration, particularly in technology transfer and hydrogen projects, and stressed the need for better regulations and incentives.

Mr Giustino Guglielmo, Managing Director of Bass Oil, spoke on Indonesia's rich oil and gas resources, emphasising the need for enhanced recovery techniques and addressing challenges in gas production and infrastructure. He noted Indonesia's geothermal potential and transportation issues while praising its skilled workforce and relationship-based economy. However, he pointed out the need for improved business administration practices.

Mr Tony Manini, Executive Director of EMR Capital, underscored Indonesia's rapidly growing population, economy and energy consumption, and the significant competition for primary metals driven by renewable energy infrastructure. He highlighted Indonesia's strengths in primary industries, much developed by earlier Australian investment, and the opportunities for new Australian investment when Indonesia adjusts its policy settings to increase exploration for its minerals pipeline.

Mr Andrew Treble, Head of Government Affairs for Sun Cable, detailed the Australia-Asia Power Link project, which aims to deliver Australian solar and wind energy to Singapore via a high-voltage subsea cable through Indonesia. He highlighted the importance of long-term relationships, policy harmonisation, and the role of people-to-people connections in facilitating the energy transition across different jurisdictions.

Industry Showcase and Round tables

AIBC knows how important it is for industry to hear from others with experience on the ground. The final day of the conference featured a panel discussion aimed at showcasing “success stories” and sharing key insights into successes and challenges, followed by Q&A. For the Industry Showcase, we were joined by companies with considerable experience operating in the Indonesian market across different sectors – from Healthcare, Manufacturing, Architectural design, and Venture Capital. The Panel included Khalid Saleem, Indonesia Leader, Arup; David Masel, CEO Gelflex; Chris Thompson-Lang, Director, Aspen Medical; Aditya Kamath, CEO Argor; Bayu Syerli Rachmat, Co-founder, Elevarm; and Haryo Sedowo, Director, Indonesian Investment Promotion Center (IIPC). Each of our panellists provided valuable insights into the key factors for success; the roadblocks encountered and strategies for going forward.

In addition. delegates had the opportunity to have their say as  part of  a series of industry round tables focussing  on the key themes of the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy: • Raising Awareness • Building Capability • Removing Blockages • Deepening Investment

AIBC Membership

Welcome to new Members 2024-2025

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We welcome new members!

Join now at 50% off for 6 months membership to June 30 2025.

Dsicount code: AIBC2025

Thankyou to our Conference Sponsors

Partner Sponsor; Investment NSW

Platinum Sponsors: Austrade, Fitzpatrick Advisory, Indonesian Investment Promotion Centre NSW (IIPC)

Gold Sponsors: Asialink, Northern Territory Government

Silver Sponsors : Aspen Medical, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Macquarie International, Invest & Trade WA, EMR Capital, Garuda Indonesia, Suncable

Session sponsors: Argor, Arko, EY, Consulate General Republic of Indonesia in Sydney

Luncheon Sponsor: Pilotage Consulting