Australia and Indonesia can build much-needed trust by deepening trade and investment ties that have for too long been underdeveloped, according to one of the south-east Asian nation’s most powerful business figures.
“As neighbours, we are very close, but if you look at the numbers … I think we can do a lot more. We take it for granted, the relationship,” he said. “We believe that through trade, through investment, through education … that gives back to the people and this is building trust and confidence between us.”
Australia and Indonesia are each other’s 13th largest trading partners, with $20 billion in two-way trade, but Indonesia ranks 27th as a destination for Australian foreign investment, well behind the top sources of Singapore, Hong Kong and China. “Australia is focusing on security but let’s talk about other security – food security, energy security, let’s talk about that, rather than just talking about defence security.“
“We want to see the numbers of China. We want to be in the top five, top 10 [trading partners of Australia] as well as investment,” he said. “We are very ambitious.”the foot and mouth disease outbreak in Indonesia that has posed an $80 billion threat to Australia’s cattle industry.
ChrisBarrett_ No thanks
ChrisBarrett_ More military equipment,boats & loads of dosh might go a way to cheer them up smh auspol voicetoparliament