President Joko Widodo hand delivers a ratified Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to Australia’s Parliament

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MELBOURNE — The Australia-Indonesia Centre (AIC) welcomes the ratification of the new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Indonesia and Australia, known as IA-CEPA.

That the Agreement is being hand delivered by President Joko Widodo to Australia’s parliament perfectly symbolises the dawning of a new era in bilateral relations that this Agreement represents

AIC Chair Harold Mitchell AC and Executive Director Dr Eugene Sebastian are attending a Parliamentary lunch with President Jokowi today in Canberra.

“Alongside wider market access and lower tariffs, this Agreement sets the tone for greater collaboration in education and innovation as well. Four years of side-by-side research has shown us the strong people-to-people links that can be forged in these fields, links from which all opportunities stem,” said Dr Eugene Sebastian.

“In December last year I proudly launched a documentary called ‘Trading Cultures’, celebrating the earliest known trade between the indigenous peoples of Sulawesi and northern Australia. The IA-CEPA moves us back toward the free and productive trade system that the people of Makassar and the Yolngu once enjoyed,” added Harold Mitchell AC.

“But IA-CEPA is just the beginning,” continued Harold. “It is how we all respond that will shape the impact of this historic agreement. Let’s get to work seeking joint competitive advantages between our economies, and demonstrate what’s possible when government and industry efforts align.”

Through its Skills Futures initiative, the AIC promotes stronger education, skills and training partnerships between Australia and Indonesia. Through Digital Economy, the Centre highlights emerging opportunities in the digital space for Australia-Indonesia relations. Our recently launched PAIR program represents the cutting edge in collaborative research and innovation between the two countries.

The substance and the spirit of the IA-CEPA and President Jokowi’s timely speech to a joint sitting of the Australian Parliament will invigorate all of these efforts, supporting closer people-to-people links in trade and research, and bringing our countries closer together.

Media enquiries

Dr Eugene Sebastian
Executive Director, AIC
via aimee.harman@ausindcentre.org
+61 428 838 940

Harold Mitchell AC
Chair, AIC
via aimee.harman@ausindcentre.org
+61 428 838 940

Resources

• Trading Cultures: A documentary
• Hacking Trade Growth: Leveraging the talent of young people to amplify Australia-Indonesia trade
• The launch of PAIR in South Sulawesi: the next chapter for Australia and Indonesia
• The time is now, but patience needed for Australian education in Indonesia

About The Australia-Indonesia Centre

The Australia-Indonesia Centre is a consortium of 11 leading research universities in both countries. Its mission is to advance people-to-people links in science, technology, education and innovation.

Visit the AIC website for more information.