25/9/00
Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan will lead a delegation of senior Western Australian Government and industry representatives to Indonesia this week, demonstrating the continuing importance of Indonesia as a strategic trading partner for the State.
Mr Cowan said Indonesia was WA’s eighth largest export market, accounting for exports worth almost $600 million in 1999-2000. Major items were wheat and alumina, but also included products ranging from paints and pigments to meat, machinery and motor vehicles.
The trade mission will have a particular focus on promoting WA’s expertise as a leader in environmental management. This includes innovation in areas ranging from water and waste management to protection and rehabilitation of land.
“The State’s expertise in renewable energy technology, which has been fostered in part by our need to deliver energy to remote communities, is another area of particular interest,” Mr Cowan said.
The five-day trade mission will visit Jakarta, Surabaya and Denpasar. Highlights include top-level meetings with Indonesia’s Minister for Environment, Sony Keraf, and Minister of Industry and Trade, Luhut Panjaitan.
Mr Cowan will also sign the third Memorandum of Understanding between East Java and WA, which underpins the strong sister-state relationship that was formally established in 1990.
Also in Surabaya, delegates will meet with Jasa Tirta - a leading government agency - to discuss water collaboration opportunities. Jasa Tirta manages the Brantis River basin in East Java and a number of collaborative projects are under consideration.
The trade mission includes representatives of the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Perth-based International Centre for the Application of Solar Energy, the Water and Rivers Commission, Water Corporation, Australian Institute of Marine Science and Department of Commerce and Trade.
Private sector companies participating in the mission include A.C.C.U.E, Clough Engineering, Energy Equity Corporation, Golder Associates, Quality Assurance Services, Smithson Planning and the Kimseed Group of Companies.
Media contact: Julie Cole 9222-9595
