Key Projects
Thematic Working Groups
AustCham ASEAN’s Working Groups offer members an ASEAN wide advocacy and networking platform for the exchange of information on key issues and opportunities, and as a collective form an effective vehicle from which to drive change in the region.
The working groups are initially concentrating on the following thematic areas:
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Agri-food and supply chain logistics
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Digital transformation and Industry 4.0
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Healthcare
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Labour mobility
It is envisaged that the thematic areas will be expanded to cover education, infrastructure/energy, and tourism & aviation in response to the needs of Corporate Members. In addition, AustCham ASEAN will focus on areas which align with the advocacy and commercial priorities of the working group’s members.
Australian Business in ASEAN 2019
AustCham ASEAN produces an annual survey report, providing unparalleled insights into the confidence and plans of the Australian business community in ASEAN. The insights from this report are utilised to inform key policy makers as to the opportunities and challenges in each individual member state and across the region. The latest edition of the survey is now available here.
Addressing Non-Tariff Barriers in the Agri-food sector in ASEAN
Following a key recommendation from the CEO forum at the special summit, AustCham ASEAN has partnered with the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to form a Working Group focussed on understanding the impact non-tariff measures have on market access and cost for the Agri-food industry. Bringing together key industry bodies across food & beverage, meats, grains, and dairy, this working group will identify a constructive way forward to reduce the burden of such measures in ASEAN.
Capturing the ASEAN food opportunity for Northern Australia
Following the release by the Australian government of the White Paper on Developing Northern Australia in June 2015, it emerged that closer economic integration with our northern neighbours (the ASEAN region) is an ideal way to catalyse development in Northern Australia, however, there are significant barriers before the region can capitalise on this opportunity. Partnering with the CRC for Developing Northern Australia, AustCham ASEAN is examining the barriers of entry for a number of high potential commodities in key ASEAN markets, and developing an action plan as to how they may be overcome.
2018 Highlights
Recognition
The Australian business community in ASEAN now has a voice directly at the heart of ASEAN policy making. AustCham ASEAN was recognised by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and the ASEAN Secretariat as a Joint Business Council and the voice for Australian business operating within the region at the ASEAN level. This provides Australian business with direct access to working groups and committees on issues of importance to Australian business such as Non-Tariff Measures and Barriers, healthcare integration, trade facilitation, and standards and conformance.
Australia-ASEAN Special Summit 2018
In March 2018, the Australian Prime Minister welcomed the 10 ASEAN leaders to Sydney for the inaugural ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. AustCham ASEAN played a crucial role in preparing the business element of the summit, with the CEO forum bringing together 130 CEOs from across Australia and ASEAN to discuss concrete ways that the business relationships could be strengthened. In preparation for the Summit, a survey of the Australian business community was undertaken, with focus groups conducted in the areas of:
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Digital transformation and industry 4.0;
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Tourism Destination Development and Aviation;
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Future Energy and Supply Chains;
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Agri-food and Supply Chain Logistics; and
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Infrastructure.
These then formed the basis for discussion at the CEO forum and were instrumental in the business recommendations that followed the summit.
ASEAN Smart Cities Network
As the chair of ASEAN for 2018, Singapore chose a theme of ‘Resilient and Innovative’, with the ASEAN Smart Cities Network as a key initiative to implement this theme. The Network is a collaborative platform where cities across ASEAN work towards a common goal of smart and sustainable urban development. Through the ASEAN-Australia Smart Cities Initiative AustCham ASEAN was involved in assisting the Australian government to select which cities would be initially supported under this program. In addition, this work was showcased to ASEAN leaders and dialogue partners, including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, at the November Leader’s Summit in Singapore.
ASEAN Economic Ministers – Closer Economic Relationship
As the recognised voice for Australian business within ASEAN, AustCham ASEAN presented the key findings and outcomes from the work undertaken across the year, and the CEO forum as part of the Special Summit to ASEAN Economic Ministers and counterpart Australian and New Zealand Trade Ministers, who expressed particular interest in the factors driving investment choices across different ASEAN Member States.
