IA-CEPA: Towards a Stronger Business Partnership Between Australia and Indonesia

Registration open from 5.15pm for 5.30pm commencement.

Refreshments will be served following the public lecture.

Jointly hosted by the ANU College of Business and Economics and the ANU Indonesia Project.

Professor Hal Hill will Chair this event.

Indonesia and Australia signed the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) on 4 March 2019; the first major trade agreement signed by Indonesia in the last 10 years. IA-CEPA is not only a pivotal moment on paper, but also bridges the economic facilitation between the two countries.

This agreement removes tariffs between Australia and Indonesia, and also eliminates previous barriers and challenges for other sectors, such as obstacles for Australian universities to enter Indonesia. The partnership is expected to push strong collaboration between the two nations, across education, vocational training, and tourism.

About the presenter

Thomas (Tom) Lembong is the Chairman of the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board, and former Minister of Trade of Indonesia (August 2015 to July 2016).

Prior his appointment in the Cabinet, he was a Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Managing Partner and Partner at Quvat Management Pte Ltd, a private equity fund established in 2006.

Mr Lembong worked in the Equity Division of Morgan Stanley (Singapore) Pte. Ltd from 1995 to 1996. He served as Investment Banker of Deutsche Securities Indonesia, and as Division Head and Senior Vice-President at the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA). He has also served as President Commissioner at PT Graha Layar Prima Tbk (BlitzMegaplex) since 2012.

He received a Bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Arts) majoring in Architecture and Urban Design from Harvard University. He was also elected as Young Global Leader (YGL) by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2008.