Japan and South Korea, Trade and Investment

In reply to the Hon. E.S. BOURKE (2 May 2019).

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment): I have been advised:

The objectives of my trip, which were achieved, were to:

Open the South Australian Trade and Investment Office, serving North East Asia, located in Tokyo, Japan

Support industry associations leading South Australian company delegations to FOODEX to grow their exports to Japan

Call on long-time investors to commit on future collaborations; and

Promote South Australia's capacity for hydrogen export.

The South Australian Trade and Investment Office in Tokyo was officially opened on 7 March 2019 by the Governor of South Australia, His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AC, in the presence of the Australian Ambassador to Japan His Excellency Richard Court AC, at the Australian Embassy, Japan.

The official opening was attended by the below organisations:

Food South Australia

AUSVEG SA

Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association

Thomas Foods International

University of South Australia

Mitsubishi Motors Australia; and

Representatives of multiple Japanese organisations.

Senior representatives from the Australian Embassy in Japan, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, the Japanese government as well as the South Australian government also attended.

The Tokyo office is now building on connections made during the trip and driving those opportunities.

In relation to how many jobs were created, how many contracts were signed and what was the value of those contracts, I refer the honourable member to page 3314 of Hansard.

The cost of travel for the Department for Trade, Tourism and Investment's two accompanying officers is A$9,042.

The cost of travel for myself and my chief of staff is publicly available at https://www.dtti.sa.gov.au/upload/proactive-disclosure/archive-2018-2019/ridgway/Minister-Ridgway-Overseas_Travel_March_2019.pdf?t=1558586267279