Australia and ASEAN, with a combined population of approximately 655 million and a gross domestic product (GDP) of over US$3.31 trillion, share the responsibility of making ASEAN a center of growth. Australia's two-way trade with the 10 ASEAN member countries is larger than that with Japan or the United States, surpassing A$ 127 billion (US$84.27 billion) in 2021.

"ASEAN-BAC shares a common vision with the Australian government regarding the importance of inclusive cooperation. Inclusivity is crucial for strengthening strategic trust, and ASEAN-BAC will always stand together with Australia," said Arsjad Rasjid in Sydney, Australia, on Monday (June 26, 2023).

Arsjad and the delegation were in Sydney from June 26 to 28 as part of the Indonesia-led ASEAN-BAC road show for 2023. Prior to this, Arsjad conducted road shows in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea.

In Australia, the ASEAN-BAC delegation met with government officials and business stakeholders, including the premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, CEO of the Australia-ASEAN Chamber of Commerce, Deborah Biber and the Australian Special Envoy to ASEAN, Nicholas Moore.

Arsjad specifically invited government officials and business stakeholders to attend the 2023 Business Investment Summit and the ASEAN Business Awards 2023, which will be held in Jakarta on Sept. 3-4. The Southeast Asian region is projected to become the fourth-largest single market in the world by 2030, after the United States, China and the European Union.

"I am confident that ASEAN, as a strategic partner of Australia, will continue to strengthen cooperation through shared priority agreements, increased resources and new programs such as the development of the electric vehicle industry ecosystem, the construction of the Nusantara Capital in East Kalimantan and the digital economy," said Arsjad during his keynote speech at the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum in Sydney.

Arsjad revealed that ASEAN's cooperation with dialogue partners began in 1974 and the first established partnership was with Australia. This cooperation has been elevated to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, demonstrating strong strategic trust between ASEAN and Australia.

Australia has taken significant steps to address complex regional challenges, as evidenced by the establishment of the ASEAN Future Initiatives program.

"Australia, as the first dialogue partner to engage in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with ASEAN, plays an important role alongside ASEAN in building a stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," he said.

Meanwhile, alternate chair of ASEAN-BAC, Bernardino Vega, stated that Australia has taken significant steps to address complex regional challenges, as demonstrated by the establishment of the "ASEAN Future Initiatives" program.

With a focus on public health, Australia partners with ASEAN in the health experts meeting and supports the implementation of the Comprehensive ASEAN Recovery Framework.

Additionally, Australia's assistance in the digital transformation and Future Skills Initiatives forms the basis of the country's commitment to promoting digital literacy and innovation in the region.

"Australia and ASEAN work closely together to strengthen regional energy security, transition to net-zero and support renewable energy for power generation and cross-border electricity trading," said Dino.

Dino also appreciated Australia's support for ASEAN's disaster management initiatives, thereby enhancing the region's capacity to address natural disasters and climate change.

"Australia plays a crucial role in ASEAN's development through educational initiatives, contributing to the progress of quality and inclusive education in ASEAN," said Dino.

In the strategic sector of sustainable development cooperation, companies such as PT Astra International Tbk., Indika Energy, Sinar Mas, Bakrie Group and Mayora Group fully support these initiatives.

Astra began its journey 66 years ago. Throughout those 66 years, Astra has continued to innovate and adapt to the changing times. Astra 2030 Sustainability Aspirations is the next evolution for the Astra Group to become a more sustainable and resilient company.

Similar to Astra, Indika Energy is also consistent in industry, trade and investment in sustainable sectors.

"We are consistently supporting investments in industrial sectors that prioritize sustainable development. One of the efforts that Indika Energy is undertaking is developing electric vehicles and their infrastructure by introducing fast and ultra-fast charging stations for electric four-wheeled vehicles, including buses," said Azis Armand, vice president director and CEO of Indika Energy Group.

Sinar Mas also prioritizes sustainability in national infrastructure development. "One of the development elements that must be considered is sustainable and environmentally conscious development. This effort is always a concern for Sinar Mas in carrying out development in all sectors," said Michael Widjaja, group CEO of Sinar Mas Land.

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