The City of Cockburn's response to PerthNow Cockburn about the City's Indonesia Trade Delegation
Question: From your experience, can you tell me how the trip to Indonesia went?
Answer: The visit to Jakarta and Surabaya in Indonesia by City representatives and 12 Cockburn-based business delegates was a resounding success. All delegates provided positive feedback with seven out of 12 scoring between 8-10 in terms of the likelihood of starting a business partnership with Indonesian counterparts as a direct result of the trade delegation.
Some of the benefits listed by local businesses included learning about Indonesian culture and industry/business practice, including the importance of establishing face to face relationships as the basis for making meaningful two-way contacts in Indonesia, and understanding local economies of scale.
One delegate has already approached Indonesian businesses to establish representation of its brand in Indonesia. Another was able to progress an already established relationship with face-to-face meetings and others have progressed partnerships with three accelerator and incubator programs.
The City is excited to see local businesses exploring these new opportunities and promote bilateral trade in the areas of the blue economy, shipbuilding, health and education.
Important connections also made in the areas of education and vocational training at various campuses, high schools and business development programs including one focused on unlocking the economic potential of the Indonesian-Australian Comprehensive Economic Exchange Agreement (IA-CEPA) formed in July 2020.
The IA-CEPA creates a framework for Australia and Indonesia to unlock the vast potential of the bilateral economic partnership, fostering economic cooperation between businesses, communities and individuals.
Our aim was to help Cockburn businesses better understand how to do business with Indonesia, identifying leads and making valuable contacts. The feedback from delegates shows that goal was achieved.
Question: What did you and the other council members do on your trip?
Answer: During the five-day delegation, a total of 20 meetings were scheduled, including two networking events arranged by the Department of Jobs Tourism Science and Innovation. These events were each attended by about 40 businesses based in Jakarta and Surabaya, in addition to the City’s delegates.
We also met with Lauren Adams, from the Australian Consulate-General Surabaya who provided information about industry sectors in that port city which is Indonesia’s shipbuilding capital with obvious synergies with Cockburn businesses supporting the Henderson shipbuilding precinct.
Meetings included those with the Indonesian National Shipowners’ Association, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesian Ministry of Education Culture, Research and Technology, the Telecommunications and Digital Research Institute, the Australia Indonesia Business Council and several Indonesian Information Technology and Communication businesses, language schools, business accelerators and shipping companies.
Question: Did anything concrete come from the trip in terms of business deals?
Answer: Generally an initial delegation visit establishes the relationship and a foundation from which to build and identify opportunities, with a view to establishing successful partnership into the future.
According to feedback from participating Cockburn business delegates, one has already approached Indonesian businesses to establish representation of its brand in Indonesia. Another was able to progress an already established relationship with face-to-face meetings and others have progressed partnerships with three accelerator and incubator programs.
Question: Were any deals or agreements signed and what do they mean in layman’s terms for ratepayers?
Answer: See above. Participating business delegates have advised a number of positive opportunities have been identified and will be explored further as relationships evolve.
Question: How do you respond to ratepayers who say the trip was a junket?
Answer: The trade delegation comprised 20 meetings across two cities over five days with a range of local and high profile Indonesian private enterprise and government representatives. The aim is to facilitate sustainable business relationships to help ensure Cockburn’s growing business sector thrives into the future. The most effective way to achieve this is to allow people, businesses and organisations to identify and strengthen the synergies that make real connections to build on in the future.
Business delegates paid for their own flights, accommodation and food/beverages, and shared OR contributed towards the cost of translator fees.
Question: What are your plans now to continue the relationship with Indonesia following your return from the trip?
Answer: These relationships will continue to develop and grow over time as opportunities are crystalised by participating businesses, with a great foundation built on local government partnerships both here and in the Indonesia cities of Jakarta and Surabaya.
Question: If there is anything else you would like to add please do so here.
Answer: The City of Cockburn continues to advocate for its business sector and the Economic Development Team at the City is to be commended for establishing a sound relationship through the Melville Cockburn Chamber of Commerce and Business Foundations to promote the sector to a wider audience.
Question: Do you have a list of which councillors and staff went? Also could you clarify if any (and which) councillors paid their own way or only went for part of the trip.
Answer: At the 8 December 2022 Ordinary Council Meeting (OCM), Council endorsed Mayor Logan Howlett to attend the Indonesian Delegation. Cr Tarun Dewan and Cr Philip Eva were chosen via ballot to also attend. Flights and accommodation were funded from an allocation made in the City’s operating budget as per a recommendation from the Expenditure Review Committee also endorsed at the 8 December 2022 OCM.
In the week following the 8 December 2022 OCM, Cr Chontelle Stone elected to attend the trade delegation and used funds from her individual travel allowance to fund her travel expenses.
All Elected Members attended for the duration of the delegation, 12-18 March 2023.
Staff attendees -
Executive Corporate Affairs: Victoria Green
Chief Operations Officer: Anton Lees
Manager Business and Economic Development: Michael Faulkner
Executive Officer: Kate Borg