Indonesia and Australia Agree Simplified Customs Process to Boost Trade

Businesses in Australia and Indonesia are set to benefit from a simplified customs process.

IDXChannel - Businesses in Australia and Indonesia are set to benefit from a simplified customs process after the two countries signed an Authorised Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement (AEO MRA).​

Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner, Michael Outram, and the Indonesian Director General of Customs and Excise (DGCE), Askolani, signed the arrangement at the 23rd Customs-to-Customs Talks in Canberra on Wednesday (7/8/2024).

Commissioner Outram said Australia's 11th MRA will mean Australian Trusted Traders (ATT) gain faster, more efficient, and more secure access to one of the world's fastest growing economies.

"Indonesia is a vitally important partner for Australia, and it is my honour to host today's Customs-to-Customs Talks and to sign the arrangement," Commissioner Outram said in a media release.

"It is important we continue to strengthen cooperation and information sharing between our countries on enforcement and trade facilitation matters," he said.

In 2022-2023, Indonesia was Australia's 13th largest two-way trading partner by value and 9th largest export market. Indonesia is also on track to become one of the world's ten largest economies by the mid-2030s and the fourth largest economy by mid-century. 

Australia has now signed arrangements with Canada, the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and India.

Indonesia has also signed with The Republic of Korea, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the United Arab Emirates, and ASEAN. (Wahyu Dwi Anggoro)