Minister to boost trade in Jakarta

Published: 4:25 pm, Monday, 27 February 2017

Trade Minister Steve Ciobo is keen for Jakarta to allow Australian universities to establish remote campuses in Indonesia.

Mr Ciobo will lead a business delegation of 120 Australian companies to Indonesia as momentum builds on a deal to open up market access.

The visit comes after Indonesian President Joko Widodo's weekend trip to Sydney.

Australia and Indonesia are set to finalise a free trade deal this year, perhaps as early as August.

Mr Ciobo noted Indonesia's middle class of more than 45 million was forecast to grow to 135 million by 2030.

The appetite for quality education services would also grow.

'If we can get more access into Indonesia it will be a win-win,' Mr Ciobo told Sky News, saying it would help build Indonesia's skills capacity and boost Australian service exports.

While Indonesia is Australia's 12th largest trading partner there are only about 500 Australian businesses with a presence in the country.

The delegation's visit would also highlight opportunities for tourism, financial services, technology, water, sustainable urban design and agribusiness supply chains, Mr Ciobo said.

Mr Widodo and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Sunday announced Australian exporters will have sugar tariffs in Indonesia reduced to five per cent.

In return, Canberra has agreed to eliminate tariffs on pesticides and herbicides for Indonesian exporters.

Australian cattle producers will also benefit from changes to Indonesian regulations.

Import permits will change from four months to one year and weight and age limits will also increase.

Mr Turnbull hailed his talks with Mr Widodo and Indonesia's commitment to open markets during parliament's question time on Monday.

Protectionism was a 'dead-end', he declared.

'That's the way to poverty.'

Australia-Indonesia business week spans March 6-10 across multiple cities.

AAP

Source: Minister to boost trade in Jakarta