THE ROLE OF INDONESIA-AUSTRALIA BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP GROUP SECOND SUBMISSION, IN PARTICULAR TO INDONESIA-AUSTRALIA INVESTMENT SECTOR, TOWARDS THE SIGNING OF INDONESIA-AUSTRALIA COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (2016-2019)

Abstract

The IA-BPG has involved in the negotiation processes of IA-CEPA since its first position paper published. IA-CEPA was agreed by both President of Indonesia and Australian Prime Minister in April 2005, followed with the establishment of IA-CEPA negotiation, first and second round of negotiation was conducted in 2012-2013. However, due to political tension, negotiation was temporary stopped for approximately 2.5 years. Following the timeframe of the research, in 2016, the IA-CEPA was reactivated along with IA-BPG’s support in developing IA-CEPA content through its second submission published in August 2016. IA-BPG’s second submission contained in-depth analysis of stakeholders’ business concerns, both in Indonesia and Australia. In 2016, governments of both countries reaffirmed their support for a bilateral agreement covering two of the neighboring countries ' special economic relations. The IA-BPG was reconstituted and officially reactivated the IA-CEPA meetings and consultations. A' gold standard' for private sector involvement in the early phases of a bilateral trade agreements of this nature was accepted as the IA-BPG mechanism for wide-based market and member organizations consultations via interviews, seminars and written submissions.