Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

  • Media release

I am delighted to be able to announce today, with my Indonesian counterpart Minister Lembong, the re-activation of negotiations towards a free trade agreement with Indonesia.

Our Joint Statement of Intention will drive these negotiations forward.

While Indonesia is a close neighbour and firm friend, our trade and economic relationship can and should be performing better. The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) will launch a new era of closer economic engagement between our countries.

I am pleased to announce the reactivation of the Indonesia-Australia Business Partnership Group (IA-BPG) to ramp up business links. The IA-BPG is a forum for business groups to work together to make joint recommendations. It will drive sectoral initiatives and identify fresh ideas to inform our negotiations.

We have committed to start work immediately on early outcomes including on skills, education, infrastructure, horticulture, design, agriculture, food processing, professional services and financial services. These are a first taste of what can be delivered in this rejuvenated economic relationship.

Our Chief Negotiators will meet in May and again in June to receive a report from the IA-BPG on their priorities for the negotiations.

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