The very best of Tasmanian innovation, education, industry and quality produce will be on show during the Tasmanian Government's trade mission to China, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

The Premier, Lara Giddings, will leave Tasmania today and will be joined in China by a delegation including community leaders, educators, tourism operators, mining companies and small business owners.

The trade mission will ensure that Tasmania seizes the jobs and investment opportunities created by the Asian Century.

"The Asian region is growing at a rapid pace and I am determined to ensure that Tasmania does not miss out on the benefits of the boom," Ms Giddings said.

"The Asian middle-class was forecast to grow from 500 million to more than 3 billion over the next 20 years.

"These are the future consumers for Tasmanian wines, dairy, tourism, education and other high quality services and products which is why we have described Asia as the jobs engine of the 21st century."

Ms Giddings said it was important to recognise that a lot of groundwork has already been done to by Tasmanian businesses which have established strong ties with Asia.

"China and Hong Kong are now our largest export partners, taking a combined $89 million worth of the state's products in July.

"A large part of that growth is in the mining and mineral sectors but there is also a growing market for our fine produce.

"Just this week I visited Blue Hills Honey which has experienced a 330 per cent growth in demand in China over the past year.

"Another key growth sector is education, and the University of Tasmania has a goal to double its share of the international student market by 2018.

"The Tasmanian brand is already very strong but this visit is intended to help put Tasmanian products on more supermarket shelves, explore investor interest in mining and agriculture and attract more Asian tourists to the state.

"In addition, we will also be using the visit to strengthen ties with companies such as Guohua Energy and Chinese Antarctic research organisations."

Ms Giddings said findings from the trip would be incorporated into the Tasmania's Place in the Asian Century white paper, authored by the Crawford Institute.

"Tasmania is the only state in the country to have commissioned its own white paper on this issue, which will give us a lead over the competition when it comes to making the most of these new economic opportunities."

Ms Giddings said Tasmanians could follow the delegation's progress on Twitter using the #TasinAsia hashtag.

 

ITINERARY

China, Beijing: 10th-16th September

• Briefing from the Australian Embassy

• Function at the Australian Embassy to promote Tasmania in China

• Meeting with Chinese Quarantine authorities to discuss Tasmanian cherry and agricultural exports

• Meeting with Ministries responsible for Antarctic Affairs

• Business briefing from Australian Senior China Consultant

• Meeting with Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration

• Meeting with Guohua Energy Corp

• Host seminar to promote investment in Tasmanian Mining

• Meeting with China Minmetals Corp

• Meeting with Chinese sovereign wealth fund

• Briefing with Chinese Academy of Science

• Briefing on forest and forest product industry and investment trends

• Meet with EIC Group (leading Chinese international education agent)

 

Vietnam, Hanoi: 16th - 17th September

• Briefing from Australian Embassy

• Function with Australian Embassy to promote Tasmania in Vietnam

• Meeting with Ministry of Education and Training

• Meetings with Vietnamese universities

• Meeting with IDP Education

• Meeting with AusAid

 

China, Shanghai: 18th - 20th September

• Briefing from Australian Consul-General

• Event to promote Tasmanian organic produce

• Mayor/Vice-Mayor of Shanghai

• Mayor/Vice-Mayor of Pudong

• Meeting with Wahaha Food and Beverage Group

• Arts and Cultural exchange activities

• Meeting with Polar Research Institute of China

• Shanghai Chamber of Commerce

• Tasmanian tourism industry luncheon

• Visit Bangde Polytechnic College

• Meeting with Jiangsu Shagang Group

• Meeting with Chinese Banking officials

• Deliver major address to the Australia China Chamber of Commerce

• Visit Shanghai Ocean University

• Event with UTAS Chinese Alumni

 

Hong Kong: 21st September

• Meeting with Goodtop Tin International

• Tourism Tasmania industry lunch and media

• Launch new Tasmanian food export business

 

Asian Trade Delegation

• Hydro Tasmania

• King Island Sheelite

• Top-Qual

• Grange Resources

• Australian Cherry Growers

• Mineral Resources Tasmania

• Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts

• University of Tasmania

• Bellamy's Organic

• Proto Resources

• Tasmanian Irrigation

• Reid Fruits

• GETI (Government Education and Training International)

• Hobart City Council

• Tas'Mania