25-year milestone for Western Australia’s Indonesian trade office

​Western Australian Trade and Investment office in Indonesia celebrates 25th anniversary
Trade office focused on opportunities in agriculture, tourism, education, oil and gas 
Western Australia is celebrating a quarter of a century of trade ties with Indonesia this weekend, with the 25th anniversary of its Trade and Investment office in Jakarta.
 
The trade office was officially opened by the then Prime Minister of Australia Paul Keating in 1992.
 
It was originally located in Surabaya and was responsible for managing WA's Sister State relationship with East Java.
 
In 2003, the office moved to the Indonesian capital and now manages the State's broader relationship with Indonesia.
 
The office expanded to include dedicated agriculture and tourism officers in 2015.
 
WA's exports to Indonesia rose 14.9 per cent in 2015-16, to $1.9 billion.
 
The Western Australian Government maintains a network of other trade and investment offices in South Korea, China, Japan, Singapore, India, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
 
Comments attributed to Asian Engagement Minister Bill Johnston:
 
"Indonesia is Western Australia's closest neighbour and we were one of the first Australian States to open an office there to further our cultural and economic relationship.
 
"Indonesia is the State's largest wheat export market, accounting for 28 per cent of our total wheat exports, with petroleum another key export commodity.
 
"There is plenty of scope for growth in our trade relationship, particularly in areas like international education, tourism, mining and petroleum technology and services, and agriculture.
 
"The Western Australian Trade and Investment office in Jakarta will continue to play a vital role in the ongoing development of our relationship with Indonesia."