Ministerial Conferences are held every two years to bring together ministerial representation from the Bali Process Members and Observers, to review progress against current objectives, and to confirm priorities and future areas of focus.

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Following a Ministerial Conference, the Ministerial Co-Chairs release a Ministerial Co-Chairs’ Statement and supporting documentation such as an updated Declaration and Strategy for Cooperation, to set out agreed priorities and objectives.

Ministerial Conferences are preceded by a Senior Officials Meeting, which enables a review of developments in the Bali Process region, and progress around activities undertaken. The presentations and discussions are used to shape the agenda for the Ministerial Conference.

Since its establishment in 2016, the Bali Process Government and Business Forum convenes alongside the Ministerial Conference. The Government and Business Forum is jointly chaired by the Australian and Indonesian Bali Process Ministerial Co-Chairs, alongside the Government and Business Forum Co-Chairs.

Bali Process Co-Chairs

Bali Process Co-Chairs

Senator The Honourable Penny Wong, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs

Senator The Honourable Penny Wong, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, has held the role since May 2022. Previously, Minister Wong served as Shadow Foreign Minister for six years. In 2013, Minister Wong was elected Leader of the Government in the Senate and after the change of government in 2013, became Leader of the Opposition in the Senate – the first woman to hold either of these roles. After the Australian federal election of 2010, Minister Wong was appointed as Minister for Finance and Deregulation. In this role, Minister Wong and the Australian Treasurer delivered three Budgets in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis. Minister Wong also implemented a policy to ensure women are considered for appointments to senior positions in government agencies and corporations.

Her Excellency Sugiono, Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs

His Excellency Sugiono was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia on October 21, 2024, under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto. In addition to his current role, Minister Sugiono is the Secretary of the Advisory Council and Vice-Chairman of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra). Before assuming his ministerial position, he served as Deputy Chair of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I from 2019 to 2024, where he was responsible for overseeing defense, foreign affairs, and communications. Minister Sugiono’s public service career began after a brief tenure in the Indonesian Army, where he served as a First Lieutenant from 2002 to 2004. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Norwich University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

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The eighth Ministerial Conference of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime was held on 10 February 2023 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The event was co-hosted by Senator The Honourable Penny Wong, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Her Excellency Retno Marsudi, Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs