South and Southeast Asia (SSG)

Australia's prosperity is closely tied to that of our neighbours in the Indo-Pacific, including Indonesia.

Australia and Timor-Leste are close neighbours and friends that share deep and enduring ties.  Australia has been at the forefront of international support for Timor-Leste and remains Timor-Leste’s largest development partner.  

We work in an economic partnership, supporting Indonesia's efforts to tackle inequality and maintain social stability, promote tolerance and pluralism, and counter violent extremism.

Australia's bilateral relationship with Bangladesh continues to grow. Two-way trade exceeded $2.3 billion in 2016-17 on the back of sustained growth in the Bangladesh economy. 

Prior to the February 2021 military coup, Myanmar had been navigating multiple complex transitions: from military rule to a democratic government, from a closed to an open market economy and from conflict to peace. The coup and its aftermath has reversed many of the gains made and significantly amplified Myanmar's humanitarian and development challenges.

Australia and Cambodia are close neighbours, long-standing strategic partners and friends. 

Australia and the Philippines have a strong and enduring partnership built on almost 80 years of bilateral cooperation, including 50 years of development cooperation.

The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is an inter-governmental organisation formed in 1997 to foster regional economic cooperation. IORA has evolved into the peak regional group spanning the Indian Ocean.

The East Asia Summit (EAS) is the Indo-Pacific's premier forum for strategic dialogue. It is the only leader-led forum at which all key partners meet to discuss political, security and economic challenges facing the Indo-Pacific, and has an important role to play in advancing closer regional cooperation

The AIYEP, established in 1982, links youth (21-25 years old) in Australia and Indonesia through social, professional, and cultural exchange.