Media Release
14 February 2023
Australia’s Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, Nicholas Moore, is in Jakarta this week for consultations with regional business, political and industry leaders.
“Indonesia is a vital partner to Australia and one of the powerhouses of Southeast Asia,” said Mr Moore.
“It is essential to hear the experiences and perspectives from people at the heart of trade and investment here. We want to better understand where our opportunities and challenges are, so we can address them together to benefit our countries and region.”
Mr Moore is leading the development of the Australian Government’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, aiming to strengthen Australia’s economic engagement with Southeast Asia and bolster two-way trade and investment.
The strategy will consider how emerging regional trends will change or transform Southeast Asian economies over the next two decades, and where Australia is best placed to respond to these emerging economic opportunities.
“Australia and Indonesia share a close economic partnership, built on the foundations of the Indonesia Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement,” said Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Penny Williams.
“Mr Moore’s visit builds on Prime Minister Albanese’s commitment to deepen our engagement with Indonesia and the region. His visit will help identify steps that can be taken to further two-way trade and investment between Australia and the fast growing countries in the ASEAN region,” said the Ambassador.
Australia’s two-way trade with the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is greater than that with Japan or the United States, having passed AUD127 billion in 2021. Australia’s two-way trade with Indonesia in 2021 was AUD16.9 billion.
The Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 will be released in the second half of 2023. For more information visit www.dfat.gov.au/southeastasiaeconomicstrategy
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