Australia's Western Australia and Indonesia are exploring cooperation in the mineral industry to support the production of electric vehicles in both countries, as well as in the ASEAN region. Australian Prime Minister Roger Cook emphasized that environmentally friendly energy is a key opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Western Australia and Indonesia. This collaboration spans minerals for electric vehicle battery energy, as well as renewable energy sources such as hydrogen and other forms of sustainable energy. Western Australia boasts abundant solar and wind energy resources, and it aspires to become a renewable energy powerhouse to decarbonize its economy while offering similar opportunities to its partners in Southeast Asia.
The discussions took place during the ASEAN Business & Investment Summit held on September 3, 2023. The event, attended by high-ranking government officials, CEOs, and senior executives representing multinational and regional companies, featured over 100 business and political leaders from Western Australia. Besides the mineral industry, Western Australia is also open to international education collaboration, recognizing significant opportunities in agricultural and food products trade between the two economies.
Chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), Arsjad Rasjid, stressed the importance of understanding ASEAN's centrality as a region that has faced various challenges and crises while managing to grow together. Under Indonesia's leadership as ASEAN Chair this year, the focus is on incorporating values into economic growth, based on principles of prosperity, humanity, planet, partnership, and inclusive development. The goal is to shape a sustainable ASEAN economic landscape for future generations, ensuring that no one is left behind, and harnessing the potential of the region for mutual benefit.
