Meeting with ASEAN business delegates

Today I met with business delegates attending the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit and the Business Summit to highlight Australia’s trade and investment priorities, and discuss how we could boost ASEAN-Australia trade, investment and economic integration. 

Collectively ASEAN is equivalent to one of Australia’s top three trading partners, representing around 15 per cent of Australia’s total trade. In 2016-2017 Australia’s two-way trade with ASEAN was worth about $100 billion. 

As a government, we are committed to increasing our engagement and economic cooperation with ASEAN. We firmly believe that free trade and economic integration are the best paths to prosperity. That is why we signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership and why we are involved in negotiations to conclude the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Australia has the high quality goods and services demanded by ASEAN. Over 12,000 Australian businesses already export to ASEAN, and we want that figure to grow. This meeting, alongside the Special Summit and Business Summit, has helped business leaders compare insights and identify business opportunities in both Australia and ASEAN.