Today’s signing of Australia’s new Free Trade Agreement with Japan will open the door for the creation of more jobs in Tasmania’s primary industries.
Allowing greater access to the Japanese market, particularly for our beef and dairy products, the deal will prove to be good for Tasmanian exporters and good for Tasmanian jobs.
In 2012-13, Japan consumed nearly $250 million worth of Tasmanian product, which highlights not only its importance to our economy, but the potential for growth.
Tasmania has established a strong reputation in Japan for our premium quality produce and the opportunities here will develop that further.
We believe this deal will go a long way to helping us to achieve Agrivision 2050, the Liberal Government’s target of growing the value of Tasmania’s agricultural produce ten-fold by 2050.
This means more investment and, importantly, more jobs in Tasmania.
Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Primary Industries and Water
