Australia (Common Wealth) _ As the two nations’ economic links strengthen, Australia will ease requirements for visas for Indonesian business travelers, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Tuesday.
Albanese and Widodo spoke to media during their annual leaders’ meeting in Sydney, where they discussed new plans to allow more Australian and Indonesian professionals to work in both countries. According to an Australian government statement, this includes better visa options for Indonesian business visitors and frequent travelers, as well as mutual professional recognition for engineers.
To support our expanding business and commercial links, Indonesians will be granted a five-year business visa, Albanese told reporters, adding that Indonesian e-passport holders will be given priority access to Australia’s automatic passport control system.
The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement also commits the two countries to fostering skill exchange.
The two leaders agreed to expand their collaboration in the transition to cleaner energy. Jokowi highlighted that Indonesia and Australia must strengthen their substantive and strategic economic cooperation by co-producing EV batteries.
Half of the world’s supply of lithium, a vital component in electric vehicle batteries, is found in Australia. While Indonesia is the world’s largest supplier of nickel, another important component in batteries, it lacks Australia’s lithium resources.
Albanese announced a $50 million Australian dollar ($33 million) investment in startups and small- to medium-sized firms in Indonesia’s energy transformation and sustainable energy technology sectors.
Widodo, who is in Australia for three days, is also hoping to attract Australian investment for Nusantara, Indonesia’s proposed new capital, where the government plans to relocate its responsibilities in 2024. “Indonesia encourages Australia’s private sector and the Australian national capital authority to collaborate with the Nusantara capital city authority,” he said.
