Japan and South Korea, Trade and Investment

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:58): My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Can the minister update the council on how the relationship between South Australia and Japan continues to grow?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Minister, you have the call.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:58): I thank the honourable member for his question, in particular his interest in growing our business opportunities in North Asia and in the Japanese market, in particular. The Treasurer and my hardworking leader, we know, as the only Japanese Catholic member of the South Australian parliament, has a strong interest in growing our presence there. That's why we opened the second of our five international trade offices established earlier this year and, as we well know, hired Ms Sally Townsend to lead our North Asia office, which encompasses not only Japan but the Korean market as well.

Members would also be aware that South Australia will be hosting the Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee next year for the first time in three decades, which I had the pleasure of announcing at the conference in Osaka in October. During that trip I met with many Japanese companies who were very interested in doing business in South Australia. In particular, most of them—the chief executives and senior executives—had never been to South Australia before. Since those meetings, I am pleased to tell the chamber, I've had several inbound business missions from Japanese companies that we met at the conference and began building relationships with.

As members would know, I place a strong value on building relationships between our great state and other parts of the world. Two weeks ago, we had Mitsubishi Heavy Industries visit to look at opportunities across a variety of sectors, including mining, high tech and hydrogen. They also visited the Tonsley precinct and Lot Fourteen. It is interesting that it is known and recognised across Japan and Korea that South Australia is the most advanced in the hydrogen sector, with the most recent release of our Hydrogen Action Plan. Of course, it was pleasing to see the Premier turn the first sod down at the hydrolyser in Tonsley yesterday.

A few weeks prior to the Mitsubishi visit we had a visit from the Japanese company Sojitz, who we also met at the conference in Osaka. My department developed a strong program around sector opportunities, including mining and energy, particularly hydrogen; food and beverage; space; and international education. Furthermore, we will have another inbound mission from the Tokyo university on 12 and 13 December. I look forward to seeing the outcomes that result from that visit.

I'm confident that these relationships will continue to grow further and bear fruit for South Australia. Both companies are very keen to visit South Australia again and plan on attending the AJBCC in Adelaide in October next year. In fact, Mitsubishi have recently indicated they are likely to come back early in the new year.

South Australian businesses have also had an opportunity to participate in recent outbound missions to the Japan region, including BioJapan 2019 and the Korea Clinical Trial Industry Roadshow in mid-October and the craft beverages mission from 12 to 17 November. Organised by my department and our Japanese office, the craft beverages mission was attended by the Never Never Distilling Co., Prohibition Liquor, Kangaroo Island Spirits and Momentum Food and Wine.

As part of the program, they attended the Tokyo Whisky Festival, where over 8,500 consumers and traders participated, and hosted a tasting seminar about the South Australian craft gin scene. I'm advised that no other Australian state governments had a presence at the event, so we are really starting to lead the way and punch above our weight in the craft spirits sector.

The delegation also participated in the first Tasting South Australia event held on 15 and 16 November in Tokyo, where Japanese consumers were educated on our premium food, wine and spirits from our world-renowned regions such as McLaren Vale, the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa. The event also promoted South Australia as a study abroad and tourism destination. Tasting South Australia is proposed to be an annual event and will increase awareness and exposure of South Australian goods, increasing demand and promoting our state as a destination to visit.

I would encourage all businesses to look again at the inbound and outbound missions calendar that is live on the website and look for opportunities. We have a great team in China and a great team in Japan and are soon to have similar support in the US, Dubai and South-East Asia—Kuala Lumpur—to support our exporters to take their products to the world, grow the economy and create jobs here in South Australia.