- Published:
- Tuesday 19 July 2016
Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis today arrived in Japan for a four-day mission to strengthen relations with some of the country's most influential tech business leaders.
The visit comes ahead of the upcoming Australia-Japan Business Cooperation Committee (AJBCC) Conference to be held in Melbourne in October.
Mr Dalidakis will meet with leaders of a number of key Japanese companies with investments in Victoria including NEC, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings, Toshiba and Wing Arc 1st, as well as local business associations, government agencies and Victorian firms operating in Japan.
Japan is one of Victoria's most important sources of foreign investment, with around 170 Japanese companies operating in the state employing more than 10,000 people across a range of industries, including advanced manufacturing, life sciences, food production, technology and retail.
As the state's third largest trading partner, Victorian exports to Japan were also valued at over $1.8 billion to the state's economy last financial year.
The 2016 AJBCC Conference will see more than 200 of Japan’s most important business and government leaders flock to Victoria in a major coup for Melbourne, who hasn't hosted the prestigious forum in more than a decade.
The conference will run from 9 - 11 October at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and will also coincide with another big-ticket blockbuster in Japan and Australia's sporting calendars – the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier between Japan and the Socceroos.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis
“Victoria is leading the country in tech growth and investment, but we need to think bigger to be bigger.”
“That’s why it’s important we continue to build on our strong relationships with the region's most dominant players who are investing in Victoria’s economy and creating local jobs."
“Japan is one of Australia's closest friends and one of Victoria's most important trading partners, continuing to play a huge role in digital innovation and technology development across the APAC region. We’re maximising on this expertise.”