HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Subject Index
House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-05-17 Daily Xml
Contents
Pdf Xml

China Trade Mission

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright) (15:22): My question is to the Minister for Investment and Trade. Can the minister provide an update to the house on the outcomes of the recent business mission to China?

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:22): I thank the member for Wright for her question. I know that jobs are very important in her constituency. When it comes to China, our most important trading partner, there is good news bursting out everywhere, when it comes to food and wine exports in particular. I know how infectious members opposite find this good news, because if you were representing a district in the regions you would have businesses coming to your electorate office on an ongoing basis giving you the good story.

It is South Australia's largest two-way trading partner, worth $3.8 billion a year, with the potential to further develop our trading investment relationship. It is also the 30th anniversary of our special sister state relationship with Shandong and in April, on behalf of the government, the Premier led a very historic delegation to Shandong. This year, we chose to expand our business mission to further develop our relationship beyond Jinan and Qingdao to include the cities of Linyi, Zibo and Yantai.

Our business mission comprised 107 individual businesses—many of them from the constituencies of members opposite—with 170 business delegates. It was the largest ever business delegation to leave the state, reflecting the importance of trade and investment opportunities to grow their businesses. The mission was a resounding success, with the signing of more than 30 commercial cooperation agreements or memoranda of understanding. In addition, businesses have:

secured 130 export leads, which should be worth about $50 million to South Australia;

identified 52 new investment leads, with one valued at approximately $A20 million;

made more than 370 business connections; and

secured 12 export deals valued at more than $500,000.

All of that is jobs, jobs in the regions and jobs in the city.

The South Australian government also signed two agreements: one with infrastructure giant China Railway Group, with potential investment in iron ore projects on Eyre Peninsula; and the second with Jinan-based ICT giant Inspur, a world leader in digital data, which will add to our growing reputation as a destination of choice for ICT companies.

In each city, the South Australian government launched SA-Shandong Connect. This bilingual website portal will directly connect South Australia and Shandong enterprises, providing business-to-business opportunities that will open doors, get trade and investment deals done, and develop commercial and professional links. This is another tool which will help grow the economic relationship with China.

While the South Australian government is regularly criticised for its business mission program, from certain members opposite, and international engagement activities described as media stunts or somehow irrelevant, the very people who are benefiting from these activities are in their electorates. The number of companies involved in the mission have contacted the government, particularly the Department for State Development, thanking them for their assistance in pulling together a strong program.

For example, Stoney Pinch Quarry in Renmark, the shadow minister's area, was able to make new connections in China and, as a result, has three new potential clients coming to Adelaide to continue discussions. Of course, Sustain SA are following up opportunities in Jinan, Qingdao and Yantai in sectors of environmental sustainability and aged care. Then there was the International Centre for Financial Services in the University of Adelaide—a very productive experience for them. It is good news all round—food and wine exports through the roof, our engagement delivering jobs and enterprise across the state.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT