22 September 2018

Will Hodgman, Premier

Asia Trade and Investment Mission sets foundation for more jobs

More opportunities to sell Tasmanian produce into Asian markets, more tourists spending money in Tasmanian businesses, further establishing Tasmania as the Antarctic gateway, and improved educational exchanges will be the key results of the Government’s Asia Trade and Investment Mission.

In 15 days across Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Singapore, key outcomes of the Mission included:

• facilitating direct contacts for Tasmanian businesses with potential new customers, including at Asia’s leading trade show for fruit and vegetable marketing;
• signing an agreement with China’s largest fresh produce e-commerce platform to support pathways to market for Tasmanian exporters;
• hosting a Showcase Tasmania Event in Shanghai where Tasmanian businesses promoted their products to key industry leaders in the Chinese food and beverage sector;
• supporting the launch into the Chinese market of Tasmania’s Springvale Wines and Wellington Water, sourced from Burnie’s Dew South;
• meeting with major travel agents in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore to promote Tasmania as a premium destination;
• hosting agri-business and investor roundtables to promote Tasmania’s primary industries, agri-tech and development opportunities;
• the announcement of two visits from the Chinese icebreaker Xue Long which will deliver around a $2.5 million boost to Tasmania’s economy;
• promoting Tasmania’s renewable energy expertise and opportunities here for further development; and
• signing a new MOU with the Putuo District (Shanghai) Institute of Education to encourage visits and exchange trips between Tasmania and China, which supports the Government’s Global Education Growth Strategy.

More than 80 per cent of Tasmania’s international exports are in Asian markets, so it is important to enhance our connections and open up new opportunities for our businesses.

The Mission involved more than 50 meetings and engagements over 13 days with major industry leaders and businesses that have existing and planned trade and investments with Tasmania, and with senior Government officials.

There is a very positive perception of what Tasmania offers in Asia, with a corresponding increase in trade in recent years in areas where we have a competitive advantage, including agriculture, aquaculture, energy, mining, forestry and tourism.

Notwithstanding the negativity of opposition parties, my Government is determined to maintain this advantage because it supports local businesses and jobs here in Tasmania.

MoUs signed by the Government during the Trade and Investment Mission are available at www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au and the completed itinerary for the Premier’s legs of the Mission is available http://bit.ly/AsiaTradeMissionCompletedProgram

Putuo & DOE MOU: http://bit.ly/PutuoDoEMOU

Win-Chain and Tasmanian Government MOU: http://bit.ly/Win-ChainTasGovMOU

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