Future Directions International: Launch of the Indian Ocean Dialogue
Remarks by Stephen Smith MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (check against delivery)
Government House, Perth
6 July 2010
Thank you Major General Hartley [Future Directions International Institute Director]
His Excellency, Dr Ken Michael, Governor of Western Australia
Indian High Commissioner Sujatha Singh
The Honourable Mr Norman Moore, MLC, Minister for Mines and Petroleum representing West Australian Premier Mr Barnett
Lord Mayor of Perth Lisa Scaffidi
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen.
It is my great pleasure to be with you today at the Perth launch of Future Directions International's inaugural Indian Ocean Dialogue.
This year is Future Direction International's 10th anniversary.
Since its foundation, Future Directions International has established a strong research record on developments in the Indian Ocean region.
It pursues these interests from a Western Australian vantage point, adding an important dimension to the consideration of how Indian Ocean Rim issues will influence Australia's future.
In December 2007, in my first speech as Foreign Minister, I said that Australia needed to look west.
Since that time Australia has made significant progress in our strategic engagement with our regional neighbours to our west.
We now have a much more comprehensive approach that recognises both the diverse nature of the Indian Ocean rim and Australia's long term national interests in pursuing closer Indian Ocean rim engagement.
This has meant forging stronger relations within the region. It has meant upgrading our engagement with regional groupings like the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR ARC) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), at the same time as strengthening our bilateral relationships, including with India itself.
The priority Australia now rightly accords India in our foreign and trade policies reflects the fact that India, the world's largest democracy, has now emerged as a significant global power, both politically and economically.
India has been Australia's fastest-growing trading partner, with two-way trade growing more than 10 percent to over $20 billion in 2009.
In November last year, Australia and India lifted the status of our bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, reflecting the strong convergence of interests and values that we share.
This Strategic Partnership includes co-operation on trade and investment, regional and global security issues, education, science, research and development, climate change, and resources and energy.
The Australia-India Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, importantly, enhances the links between our defence, foreign policy and national security institutions.
In May we completed a joint Free Trade Agreement (FTA) feasibility study. It makes a strong case for a comprehensive FTA.
We want to commence negotiations, as I said to Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma over the weekend, once internal processes on both sides are completed.
All this clearly recognises that the Indian Ocean Rim is of critical economic and strategic importance to Australia.
It is home to more than 2.5 billion people, almost 40 per cent of the world's population.
The security of its waters goes to the heart of Australia's national interests. Indian Ocean shipping routes are vital to our trading interests, particularly for the export of minerals, petroleum and energy resources to meet the rising demand in India itself, China, the Gulf and the Middle East.
The Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation is the region's largest grouping.
There are many issues that IOR-ARC members could work collaboratively on, including fisheries management, disaster management, education, tourism, and agriculture.
As a founding member, we continue to work with the current IOR-ARC Chair Yemen.
Australia has also nominated to Vice Chair the group for the period 2011 to 2012. We hope this bid is successful. We look forward to working with the next Chair India and other members to increase the relevance and focus of IOR ARC activities.
I am delighted that Perth will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October next year. One of the main reasons for choosing Perth was its significance as an Indian Ocean capital city.
An Indian Ocean rim CHOGM will be an important opportunity for the region.
It will bring an unprecedented focus on the opportunities that the region brings. This will benefit not just Perth, Western Australia and Australia but the Indian Ocean region itself.
As global economic, political and strategic military influence continues to shift to our region, Australia is well-placed to play a leading role in tackling both the challenges and the opportunities that this presents.
To do this effectively Australia must continue to look west, and continue to enhance its engagement with the countries and the regional associations of the Indian Ocean.
As we do so, we look forward to listening to your ideas about the enhanced role that Australia can play in the region.
Thank you.