Strong trade & investment focus for Premier’s official visit to Japan: March 5–9

The Premier of Western Australia Colin Barnett will meet with industry and government decision makers during a five-day official visit to Japan, one of Western Australia’s most important economic partners. Mr Barnett said that as well as reinforcing existing trade and investment relationships, he would be encouraging even greater involvement in developing Western Australian resources and infrastructure.

“Japan is WA’s second-largest export market, so industry in the country has a lot to gain from the continued expansion of our minerals and energy sectors and development of new export infrastructure,” he said. “Last year, the combined value of the State’s exports to the Japanese markets was over $18 billion, and Japanese companies are very involved in new resources and industrial projects in WA.”

“I will be bringing a message that Japanese investment is welcome in this State and encouraging companies to take a broad view of the opportunities to secure resources for the future. These opportunities could also include developing more advanced processing and materials manufacture in WA.”

While in Japan (March 5-9), the Premier will discuss future investment plans and opportunities with senior executives of companies with interests in WA, including:

Mr Barnett will meet with senior Japanese government officials, including Mr Banno, Japanese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and address an investment luncheon organised by the Australian Ambassador to Japan. The Premier will also attend a function hosted by the Governor of Hyogo Prefecture, Mr Toshizo Ido, to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Prefecture’s Sister State relationship with WA.

The Premier will follow his Japanese visit with his first official visit to Korea (March 9-12).