Contents
Minister’s Foreword
Celebrating 50 years of partnership with ASEAN
Minister’s Foreword
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The ASEAN-Australia Special Summit 50 Years of ASEAN-Australia Relations – The History Australian companies exporting to ASEAN countries – success stories
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Business Champions for Southeast Asia Australia for ASEAN scholarship program
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Moo-ving food into Asia
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The first issue of Business Envoy for 2024 follows the highly successful ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, held 4-6 March in Melbourne, which celebrated 50 years of partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Fostering demand for gender- lens investing in Southeast Asia Australia’s trade agreements in Southeast Asia delivering for business
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Indo-Pacific Economic Framework update
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As we look to the next 50 years, Australia wants to continue enhancing our partnership with ASEAN, which has significantly contributed to the peace, security, stability, and prosperity of our region. I am optimistic about the economic opportunities and I look forward to embracing these together.
The Prime Minister made several key announcements at the Summit that will support implementation of Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 , including: • a $2 billion Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility to catalyse Australian private sector investment in one of the world’s fastest growing regions; • an additional $140 million through the Partnerships for Infrastructure program to support infrastructure development and attract diverse, quality infrastructure finance; • the appointment of ten senior, private sector Business Champions to help facilitate greater commercial links between Australia and Southeast Asia; and • new regional technology Landing Pads in Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh City bringing together startups, research institutions, and
I was delighted to speak with a range of eminent business leaders, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and industry groups at the Summit. The CEO Forum brought together 100 Australian and ASEAN CEOs to examine ways to boost our two-way trade and investment, while the SME Conference and Marketplace provided an opportunity to showcase the wonderful small business offerings across Australia and Southeast Asia. I encourage all Australian businesses interested in Southeast Asia to speak with DFAT, Austrade and Export Finance Australia about the opportunities to make use of our government’s significant uplift in the region. In addition to the ASEAN Summit, our government is taking practical steps to help our exporters and investors expand and diversify into this exciting market, and to create more high-paying jobs at home.
In February, I travelled to Abu Dhabi to lead Australia’s delegation to the 13th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference to prosecute Australia’s interests on the world stage. While in Abu Dhabi I also met with senior ministers and business representatives of the UAE – Australia’s largest trading partner in the Middle East – to progress negotiations for our trade agreement and promote stronger investment ties. The Government is also focused on stabilising our relationship with China, which has resulted in the return of nearly all of the $20 billion worth of trade impediments affecting our exporters.
This issue of Business Envoy covers further important developments in our engagements with international partners, in particular the burgeoning export opportunities for Australian suppliers of mining equipment, technology, and services to Africa. We have more to do, but we remain committed to continuing our engagement with business and the broader community as we pursue our trade agenda that delivers for all Australians. I trust you will enjoy this edition of Business Envoy .
ASEAN economies at a glance 16
The UTAS Global Opportunity Program “Life-changing” New Colombo Plan scholarship in Singapore launches global business career Indigenous business sector poised to export to Asian markets Australia-Nepal: a framework to grow the trade relationship NSW business showcased to journalists from Southeast Asia Austvolt: Scaling up battery technology in WA Pursuing Australia’s trade interests at the WTO Breakthroughs in Australian sportstech creating markets overseas Australian Mining in Africa on show in Cape Town Critical Minerals Prospectus launch Global Insights: Dispatches from the diplomatic network and state and territory offices
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Senator The Hon Don Farrell Minister for Trade and Tourism
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tech players to help Australian companies break into these dynamic markets.
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On the cover: The flags of the ASEAN nations and Australia lined up at the Melbourne Convention Centre for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, 4-6 March 2024
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Senator the Hon Don Farrell speaking at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne
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business envoy
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Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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