Today, I met with my counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and New Zealand to discuss how we can work together to address challenges to the rules-based trading system and unlock greater opportunities and benefits for our region.
There is tremendous potential to grow Australian jobs and businesses through in-creased trade with Southeast Asia, and our work with ASEAN and New Zealand is key to unlocking these benefits.
This includes improving the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand free trade agreement, by cutting red tape, and making it easier for small and medium sized businesses to benefit from trade with Southeast Asia.
More than half a million Australian jobs are linked to trade with Southeast Asia, and we expect this number to grow as the Australian Government implements recommendations from Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
This includes boosting investment in the region through our $2 billion Southeast Asia Infrastructure Financing Facility and Investment Deal Teams, providing ongoing opportunities for Australian businesses to enter the region and maximise the potential of our economic ties.
Australian, New Zealand and ASEAN Ministers released a joint statement on our shared commitment to regional trade.