Indonesia-Australia Business Partnership Group

Today I will meet the Indonesian Minister for Trade, Enggartiasto Lukita, as we work towards a free trade agreement.

Negotiations for the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) were relaunched earlier this year. Our meeting today will build on the good progress already made.

A significant early outcome of IA-CEPA has been the reactivation of the Indonesia-Australia Business Partnership Group (IA-BPG).

The IA-BPG is a unique platform that brings together peak Indonesian and Australian business groups to help inform IA-CEPA negotiations.

Minister Lukita and I will meet with the IA-BPG today and receive their second report detailing opportunities to further strengthen the trade and investment relationship between our two countries. This updates the original report released in 2012.

The IA-BPG, representing Indonesian and Australian businesses working together, has delivered a shared view of the potential significant commercial, trade and economic benefits IA-CEPA can deliver. It reflects the spirit of the IA-CEPA negotiations.

Consensus recommendations from industry, such as the report we receive today, will help build momentum and ambition in the IA-CEPA negotiations.

Recommendations flowing from the IA-BPG process contributed to the development of initiatives including our partnership on developing Indonesia's red meat and cattle sector, financial services cooperation, and collaboration in fashion, jewellery and other creative industries.