State Budget 2024: WA to spend $4.4 million basing second ASEAN trade commissioner in Singapore

WA will spend $4.4 million to deploy a second trade commissioner to southeast Asia – this time based in Singapore – as the State seeks to tap the rapidly emerging growth economies of the ASEAN region. Under the new model, two separate trade commissioners will be based in Indonesia and Singapore. The move will considerably ease the workload of WA’s existing ASEAN trade commissioner in Jakarta, who will be tasked with focusing solely on Indonesia and the Philippines. Responsibility for Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia will transfer to the new commissioner. Premier Roger Cook said strong trading relationships with the developing southeast Asian nations were vital to efforts to diversify WA’s economy beyond its heavy reliance on the iron ore and oil and gas sectors. “Our new Investment and Trade Commissioner position will help us to tap into new markets, unlock new business opportunities and support local jobs right across WA,” he said. “Our network of trade offices is going from strength to strength under my government, as part of my commitment to doing what’s right for WA and setting up our State for the future.” WA currently operates a “hub and spoke” model in southeast Asia with satellite offices in Singapore, Hanoi, Ho Chi Min City, Manila and Kuala Lumpur that are coordinated out of a main base in Jakarta. Indonesia Institute founder Ross Taylor has been an outspoken critic of the approach which he has said does not allow enough focus on WA’s nearest northern neighbour. Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous nation and is on track to be the world’s fourth-biggest economy by 2045. Mr Taylor has claimed the flood of cheap Indonesian nickel that threatens to close WA mines – including BHP’s sprawling Nickel West – would not have come as such a surprise if the State had a more established presence in Jakarta. Stationing a full-time trade commissioner in Singapore will enhance the emphasis on what is currently WA’s fourth largest trading partner, with two-way trade in goods and services valued at around $16 billion annually. Petroleum and gold account for the lion’s share of WA exports to Singapore.

State Budget 2024: WA to spend $4.4 million basing second ASEAN trade commissioner in Singapore

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