Indonesia Connect Roadshow 2023 is well and truly underway with a packed itinerary for day 2!

Led by Western Australian Premier Roger Cook, the mission aims to deepen relations between Western Australia and Indonesia, and connect businesses looking to explore future trade and investment collaborations across 5 priority sectors of energy transition; primary industries; creative industries and the digital economy; tourism; and international education.

Day 2 began with a morning briefing before delegates went on to their various stream-related activities, which included site visits, panel discussions as well as B2B matching sessions for all streams. 

 Energy Transition: 

The day began with a Western Australia-Indonesia Energy Forum. Hosted by Invest and Trade Western Australia, the forum provided a platform for energy sector representatives from both jurisdictions to discuss energy transition and green energy developments as well as opportunities for future Western Australian-Indonesian collaboration.

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook provided opening remarks while Western Australian Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Energy, and the Hydrogen Industry, Bill Johnston, joined a panel discussion on the role of government in accelerating the energy transition. 

Perth USAsia Centre Research Director Dr Kate O’Shaughnessy facilitated the panel discussion, which also included Horizon Energy CEO Stephanie Unwin and Chamber of Minerals and Energy CEO Rebecca Tomkinson.

 Attendees also heard from an expert panel on green energy development in Indonesia and related opportunities for Western Australia within the sector. This discussion was moderated by David Mitchell, Lead Adviser on Market Integration, IA-CEPA Katalis,  and included Institute for Essential Services Reform Executive Director Fabby Tumiwa, PT Pertamina CEO Nicke Widyawati, Shaun Wellbourne-Wood, ASEAN Dean, Curtin University and Darren Hill, General Manager, Commercial and Business Development, Horizon Power.

The forum closed with a networking lunch and B2B matching session. 

In the afternoon, Premier Cook and Minister Johnson participated in a ministerial dialogue, hosted by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN). This dialogue is the first high-level dialogue under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Western Australia and KADIN on critical minerals cooperation.

Primary Industries:

Delegates accompanied Western Australian Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis on a tour of Bogasari Flour Mills. Bogasari is one of Western Australia’s single largest grain customers with an enduring relationship between Western Australia’s wheat growers and exporters, particularly the CBH Group. Delegates were provided with an understanding of changing consumer trends for wheat-based products in Indonesia, with Western Australian wheat being highly regarded in the country for the production of fresh and instant noodles. 

AEGIC, who were in attendance, have for many years provided regular education and technical support to Bogasari and recently embarked on research and development products to extend the use of Australian soft-type wheats for use in cakes and biscuit productions in Indonesia.

In the afternoon, primary industries delegates participated in a site visit to Mulia Raya. The Indonesian trading company played an important role facilitating the first entry of Western Australian horticulture products to Indonesia under the Indonesia Australia-Close Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA).

International education:

Delegates began the day with a market briefing on Western Australia and Indonesia’s international education industry. 

 Attendees were also given an in-depth look at Western Australia’s international education sector capabilities, including the Western Australian Government’s support for the international education sector, scholarship and sponsorship programs, skilled migration, and Western Australian technical and vocational education training resources.

 In the afternoon, Western Australian International Education Minister David Templeman and delegates attended a meeting with senior representatives of the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology. Discussions centred round opportunities for future collaborations between Western Australia and Indonesia in the international education sector. 

Creative industries and digital economy:

 Delegates began the day with a site visit to the headquarters of Jakarta Smart City. Attendees were given an in-depth look at Jakarta’s initiative to establish a data-driven, transparent and collaborative use of technology to deliver improved public services for the Indonesian capital’s residents.

In the evening, Her Excellency Ms Penny Williams PSM, Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, hosted a creative industries sundowner. The sundowner was an opportunity to promote engagement between Western Australia and Indonesia in the creative industries, and for Western Australian delegates to network with their Indonesian counterparts.

Tourism:

An all-day B2B workshop was held where Western Australian tourism delegates met with Indonesian industry partners and travel agencies. It was a prime opportunity for Western Australian tourism operators and businesses to gain a better understanding of the Indonesia market and showcase their products to key buyers from the leisure and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector.

The day concluded with a Tourism WA dinner attended by Western Australian and Indonesian tourism operators and key trade partners. Attendees heard from Tourism WA Executive Director of Marketing Melissa Forbes on key opportunities for Western Australian-Indonesia tourism collaborations, followed by a video presentation on Tourism WA’s Walking on a Dream campaign.

Tourism WA also took the opportunity to launch the Muslim Travel Guide in Bahasa Indonesia. The travel guide offers useful information to Muslim business visitors, tourists and international students visiting Western Australia, including consular services and helpful contacts. 

 Find out more about the roadshow at the Indonesia Connect Roadshow 2023 webpage. 

Published on: 05 September 2023