Joint media release
Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile, and the Minister for immigration
and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Philip Ruddock
Friday 31 May 2002
Indonesia Joins the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme
Trade Minister Mark Vaile and Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock
today welcomed the announcement by Indonesia’s Minister for Trade,
Ms Rini Soewandi that Indonesia would join the APEC Business Travel
Card Scheme.
Minister Soewandi made the announcement at the APEC Trade Ministers
Meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The APEC Business Travel Card
provides approved business people from participating member economies
with streamlined travel within the Asia-Pacific region. The APEC
Card is credit-card size, contains personal identity details and is
valid for up to three years for short-term business visits between
participating member economies.
“Australia, Brunei, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Peru, South
Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand and Chinese
Taipei are already participating in the scheme,” Mr Vaile said.
“The decision by our neighbour, Indonesia, to join the
APEC Business Travel Card scheme will encourage increased involvement
by Australian business in Indonesia and open the way for higher levels
of cross-border trade and investment in the APEC region.
“Indonesia is Australia’s 10th largest trading partner.
By streamlining business travel we are reducing the cost of doing
business and helping Australian companies to maximise opportunities
in Indonesia.
“Almost 4,000 business people have been issued with an APEC card.
This represents a step forward for regional trade and will enable
Australian businesses to maximise the opportunities.”
Mr Ruddock said the APEC Business Travel Card system would
allow streamlined travel to, entry, and departure from participating
economies through a system of clearances, reducing the need to apply
for multiple visas.
"Before each cardholder is issued a card, their entry
is cleared by the participating APEC members, and then on arrival
they are fast-tracked through special APEC lanes at international
airports,” Mr Ruddock said.
Business people from participating APEC member economies who wish
to apply for an APEC Business Travel Card should contact their immigration
authorities for details.
Australian business people who wish to apply for an APEC Business
Travel Card should contact the APEC Unit, International Business Relations,
DIMA, on telephone (02) 6264 3338; facsimile (02) 6264 3547 or e-mail:
abtc@immi.gov.au. Further information and
an application form can be downloaded from: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/business/apec/index.htm.
Media Inquiries: Nicole Guihot (Minister Vaile) 02 6277 7420 / Steve
Ingram (Minister Ruddock) 0419 278 715
Local Date:
Thursday, 17-May-2012 16:51:11 EST
