Indonesia-Australia Business Visas Approved in 3 Days Under New Program

Indonesian business professionals can now obtain Australian business visas in as little as three days, according to Australia's Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Matt Thistlethwaite MP. "We are ensuring that there are opportunities for Indonesian businesspeople, both women and men, to come to Australia to explore investment and establish their business activities there," Thistlethwaite stated in Jakarta. The announcement came during the launch of Katalis 2.0, a program under the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA). Katalis 2.0 aims to bolster two-way trade and investment and unlock the economic potential of both nations. The expedited business visa, valid for five years, is one of Australia's policies to encourage investment from Indonesia. Thistlethwaite noted a rise in investments from Indonesian companies in Australia, particularly in the cocoa, renewable energy, and natural resources industries. To support these investments, the Australian government has allocated AUD 40 million for Katalis 2.0. Australia and Indonesia previously implemented Katalis 1.0, which successfully helped Indonesian women entrepreneurs export cocoa to Australia. That program also facilitated online training for Indonesian nurses from the University of New England, enabling them to work in Australia's healthcare sector. Katalis 2.0 seeks to expand business opportunities and people-to-people connections. Thistlethwaite reported that two-way trade between Australia and Indonesia has doubled since IA-CEPA took effect in 2020. Australian companies' investments in Indonesia have grown by approximately 8 percent annually, totaling at least US$1.2 billion per year. Indonesia's Deputy Minister of Trade, Dyah Roro Esti, identified education, health, and SMEs as priority sectors for Katalis 2.0. This includes establishing Australian branch campuses in Indonesia and joint degree programs. Roro also highlighted cooperation in the services sector, particularly healthcare, aiming for knowledge transfer and competency enhancement for Indonesian healthcare professionals to meet international standards. "This opens up opportunities for Indonesians to contribute," she said. Finally, Indonesia is encouraging cooperation with SMEs, with the hope that they can increase their business capacity and export products to Australia.

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We are ensuring that there are opportunities for Indonesian businesspeople, both women and men, to come to Australia to explore investment and establish their business activities there.