VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The process of ratification of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement IA-CEPA or Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement has been completed by the two countries, and will be implemented in April. At the launching of the website "70 Years 70 Stories" in Jakarta, Wednesday (12/02 ), Deputy Ambassador of Australia, Allaster Cox, hopes that Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is able to encourage trade and investment for both countries. He also said that  the IA-CEPA is a new Australia - Indonesia comprehensive economic partnership agreement which is just nearly ratified between the two countries and will enter into force soon. It's an agreement to boost trade and investment between our two countries and there is a range of measures to increase trade and opportunities for both countries. So I think after the agreement enter into force which probably in April, 99 percent of all Indonesian exports will enter Australia duty free and a range of goods will enter the Indonesian market with new greater access and will open up opportunities also for Australian exports and imports into Indonesia's own production, there is also a new arrangement to encourage investment and other opportunities.

Deputy Ambassador Cox further stated that the most important aspect of this agreement was to increase the knowledge of businesspeople in both countries in terms of investment opportunities. Indonesia-Australia trade value for the past several years was US$16 to 17 billion dollars. Hopefully, the Partnership Agreement can be a stimulus and catalyst within the next 5 to 10 years. (NK)