It has
taken nearly a decade, but most Australian states have indicated that they will
reopen trade and investment offices in Indonesia. Only Western Australia has
had continuous representation in Indonesia over the past 20 years.
However,
the establishment of the new services may be delayed until the Indonesian Department
of Foreign Affairs finds a regulation specifically covering foreign sub-national
government missions in the country.
The
Victorian government announced last May that it had approved a new office in
Jakarta and a number of trade missions have already been mobilised through the state’s
ASEAN regional office in Kuala Lumpur using the marketing services of Phillip
Morey’s Morelink International. An office
and facilities scoping study was completed earlier this year. A ‘mega’ Victorian trade mission, focusing on
IT, is scheduled to visit Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia in June.
Queensland,
South Australia and the Northern Territory have publicly discussed new
Indonesian offices but few details have merged. The NT also has plans to
establish “an Australia-Indonesia Forum at Charles Darwin University, where
senior figures from the two countries could share ideas.”
Western
Australia has planned to advertise to find a replacement for the recently
retired state trade commissioner in Indonesia, Martin Newbery but this may also
be postponed until the Indonesian government clarifies its position. Currently WA is represented by Kellie-Jane
Pritchard in an acting capacity. She was previously Manager, AGWEST
International.