New Zealand and Indonesia hold Joint Ministerial Commission

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Murray McCully and Indonesian Foreign Minister HE Dr Marty Natalegawa held the fourth annual meeting of the New Zealand-Indonesia Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Auckland on Friday 9 September 2011.

At the JMC, Ministers reviewed progress on bilateral initiatives and set goals for future activities and cooperation.  Ministers also exchanged views on regional and global developments of relevance to our two countries.

Recognising the anniversaries of the Christchurch earthquake and the Mentawai tsunami and Merapi volcanic eruption in Indonesia, Ministers welcomed the establishment of the NZ-ASEAN disaster risk management (DRM) flagship which aims to strengthen risk mitigation and response capacities to reduce the impact of future disasters.

Mr McCully encouraged Indonesia to complete its ratification process of the ASEAN – Australia/New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA).  Once this agreement has entered into force, it will form an important building block towards wider regional economic integration and greatly enhance the opportunities for New Zealand exporters to Indonesia and the wider ASEAN market.  Indonesia is currently New Zealand's 9th most important trading partner.  A concluded AANZFTA agreement and improving incomes in Indonesia provide a wealth of opportunities for New Zealand to strengthen our economic relationship with this important Asian market.

Ministers welcomed the recent signature of the New Zealand-Indonesia Arrangement on Education Cooperation. The arrangement, signed in July 2011 during a visit to Indonesia by Minister of Education Hon Anne Tolley, provides a framework for engagement between New Zealand and Indonesian Education Ministries and between education providers in both our countries.

Ministers also welcomed the establishment of the New Zealand chapter of Indonesia-New Zealand Friendship Council. Mr McCully and Trade Minister Tim Groser are the Patrons of this organisation.

Indonesia welcomed New Zealand’s increase from 15 to 50 scholarships offered annually to Indonesian students for postgraduate study in New Zealand under the New Zealand-ASEAN Scholarships Awards scheme. Indonesia has indicated it hopes to match this figure from its own pool of scholarships available for Indonesians to undertake postgraduate study abroad.

Indonesia is a Dialogue Partner of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and while in Auckland Dr Natalegawa represented Indonesia at the PIF Post-Forum Dialogue.