Australia and Indonesia are just days away from signing a landmark free trade deal. Trade Minister Simon Birmingham will sign the deal alongside his Indonesian counterpart Enggartiasto Lukita in Jakarta on Monday, Indonesia's trade ministry said on Thursday. The trade deal was meant to be signed last year, with negotiations concluding in August. But the signing was delayed when Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the government was considering moving Australia's Israeli embassy to Jerusalem. Despite senior Indonesian ministers saying the pact was on hold until Australia clarified its position, Mr Morrison and Senator Birmingham maintained the matters were not related. The free trade deal is Indonesia's first major agreement of its type and will allow Australian-owned universities to operate in the country. Senator Birmingham has said Australian frozen meats, live cattle, feed grains, dairy, citrus and rolled steel would receive favourable treatment under the agreement. The prime minister shared his excitement for the upcoming signing of the deal on Twitter, saying it would take the economic relationship between the nations "to a new level". His predecessor Malcolm Turnbull said he was also pleased the agreement was to be signed "at last". "Indonesia is a vitally important friend, neighbour and partner for Australia," he wrote on Twitter. Australian Associated Press
Simon Birmingham will sign a free trade deal between Australia and Indonesia in Jakarta on Monday.
Australia and Indonesia are just days away from signing a landmark free trade deal.
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham will sign the deal alongside his Indonesian counterpart Enggartiasto Lukita in Jakarta on Monday, Indonesia's trade ministry said on Thursday.
The trade deal was meant to be signed last year, with negotiations concluding in August.
But the signing was delayed when Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the government was considering moving Australia's Israeli embassy to Jerusalem.
Despite senior Indonesian ministers saying the pact was on hold until Australia clarified its position, Mr Morrison and Senator Birmingham maintained the matters were not related.
The free trade deal is Indonesia's first major agreement of its type and will allow Australian-owned universities to operate in the country.
Senator Birmingham has said Australian frozen meats, live cattle, feed grains, dairy, citrus and rolled steel would receive favourable treatment under the agreement.
The prime minister shared his excitement for the upcoming signing of the deal on Twitter, saying it would take the economic relationship between the nations "to a new level".
His predecessor Malcolm Turnbull said he was also pleased the agreement was to be signed "at last".
"Indonesia is a vitally important friend, neighbour and partner for Australia," he wrote on Twitter.
