Speech
Canberra, 19 February 2004
Public launch of Australia's participation at the Aichi World Expo 2005
Introduction
Ambassador and Mrs Oshima, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
As Mr Downer just elaborated, Australia's relationship with Japan is immensely important to both countries.
It is a longstanding, mature relationship and one to which we both continue to commit our energies and resources.
We are determined to make the most of Australia's participation in this exciting project to enable Japanese visitors to the Expo and the Japanese public more broadly understand better what Australia has to offer
- on trade and investment, education, tourism and about our wonderful unique lifestyle
Our bilateral trade and economic ties are important and well established.
Japan is the world's second largest economy, accounting for almost two-thirds of East Asia's GDP.
It is our second largest trading partner and our largest export market - with goods and services exports valued at A$25.1 billion last financial year.
And Japan is our largest economic partner in East Asia and is likely to remain so for some time.
But there is still much more that needs to be done.
In contrast to our overall trade relations, for example, the Australia-Japan investment relationship is an area with room for considerable expansion.
And while our export performance in resources remains strong, we are not doing as well as we would like in services trade - beyond tourism and education - or in trade in products from newer industries.
But we are firmly committed to further developing our trade and investment ties with Japan through the Australia-Japan Trade and Economic Framework, signed last July in Tokyo by Prime Minister Howard and Prime Minister Koizumi
The Framework charts a new course for the future development of our trade, investment and economic ties with Japan.
And reaffirms the determination of both Governments to ensure the vitality of our crucial trade and investment partnership.
It includes a trade and investment facilitation package aimed at making it easier to do business, through improved commercial and regulatory linkages. In particular, it includes an Investment Memorandum of Understanding to provide for cooperative investment promotion activities.
The package covers well-established sectors, such as food and energy trade; emerging growth areas such as Information and Communication Technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology, and newer policy issues including competition policy and securities market regulation.
Good progress is being made across the eleven initiatives identified in the Framework.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen
I welcome the attendance today of representatives from Australia's States and Territories.
I encourage your governments to back this worthwhile project.
A collaborative Australian effort at Aichi will project a confident and strong image of our country and will maximise the goodwill and practical benefits we can all derive from participation in this event.
In that regard, I would also like to acknowledge Toyoto Australia and Qantas who have indicated that they will be closely involved with Australia's participation at the Expo.
The Government appreciates your support.
I encourage other companies to take advantage of this opportunity.
I have asked Parliamentary Secretary De-Anne Kelly to work with the DFAT Aichi Expo Unit and Austrade on our presence at Aichi and to build up corporate support for the project.
I have also appointed Ian Grigg to be the Australian Business Envoy for the Aichi Expo.
Ian Grigg will coordinate development of the business program and utilise his business links in Australia and Japan to generate corporate support for Australia's participation.
Ian Grigg is an eminent former public servant with experience in the 1992 Seville World Expo.
Ian has more recently served as the Prime Minister's Special Automotive Envoy to assist in implementing the Australian Government's trade strategy for the automotive sector.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Austrade and Invest Australia are developing a comprehensive business promotion program for the six months of the Expo.
Each month, the pavilion will feature a priority sector
- agribusiness, food and wine
- natural resources and energy
- biotechnology
- information and communications technology
- automotives
- and environmental technology.
We envisage that one or more business missions will visit the Expo for each featured month.
This number will be increased if there is demand.
There will be one or two days of core activity at the pavilion for each business mission.
I hope to lead one or more of the missions.
The Australian pavilion will host focused business seminars and networking meetings for Australian and Japanese businesspeople.
There is no participation cost in the seminars.
If participants want a business program outside the Aichi Expo program, Austrade can provide assistance.
The aim of this business promotion program is highly targeted - the six identified sectors are all sectors which have been successful and have scope for expansion in the Japanese market.
Business mission members and Japanese participants will be carefully matched on the basis of their product or service needs.
In other words, our business promotion program at the Aichi Expo will be a very cost-effective way for Australian businesses to promote their products and services in the lucrative Japanese market
- especially small and medium sized enterprises and new exporters.
To make it easier for companies, we have established an online Business Registry on which companies can register their interest.
This can be found through the DFAT, Austrade and Invest Australia websites.
The Aichi World Expo will provide a unique opportunity for Australian businesses to showcase themselves in Japan.
The Australian Pavilion will provide an exciting and innovative environment in which to do this.
I urge interested companies to take full advantage of this.
Thank you.