The State Government and WA’s Economic Future in the Indo-Pacific

By Hugo Seymour

The emergence of India as a major economic power, and the continuing modernisation of Indonesia, Vietnam and wider ASEAN, means the Indo-Pacific has become the global economy’s most dynamic region. As a trade-intensive and capital-importing state, Western Australia must take active steps to participate in the economic rise of its Indo-Pacific neighbours. Time-zone and geographic proximity alone will not guarantee WA has deep economic partnerships with these countries. To ensure WA realises economic opportunities in the Indo-Pacific, the State Government should orient its international engagement towards the emerging global growth countries of India, Indonesia, Vietnam and wider ASEAN.