Media release

2 September - MVT72/2004

Vaile to Attend 9th AEM-CER Consultations

The Trade Minister Mark Vaile will attend the 9 th annual AEM (ASEAN Economic Ministers) - CER consultation in Jakarta from 4 to 5 September. The annual consultations will include Ministers from the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Agreement (CER).

Ministers will review progress of the AFTA-CER Closer Economic Partnership (CEP). Key elements of the CEP work program include non-tariff trade barriers; cooperation on standards, customs and quarantine procedures; and capacity building.

A proposed free trade agreement will also be discussed. The ASEAN Economic and Foreign Ministers proposed recently to launch free trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand. "This proposal is a key opportunity to build on trade and investment linkages," Mr Vaile said

ASEAN, Australian and New Zealand Ministers will also meet representatives of the AFTA-CER Business Council (ACBC), which promotes intra-regional business relationships. Australia currently chairs the ACBC, and is represented by Mr Wal King, Chief Executive Officer, Leighton Holdings and Mr Peter O’Brien, Managing Director, Oceanis Australia.

Mr Vaile will also discuss important bilateral issues on an individual basis with ASEAN and regional counterpart Ministers.

The AEM-CER consultation will follow the 36 th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting and its related meetings, to be held in Jakarta from 31 August to 4 September.

Media contact: Matthew Doman (Canberra) +612 6277 7420.