The eyes of the world are on Tasmania and the Hodgman Liberal Government is capitalising on the momentum to drive investment and create jobs.
Next week I am leading a trade and investment mission to China, to build on the diplomatic and business ties generated by the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Tasmania last year, as well as the Premier’s previous Trade mission and our TasInvest forum.
The week-long trade and investment mission will commence on September 4. It will focus on promoting our key growth sectors in agri-food, international education and training, hospitality and tourism, our Antarctic Gateway, and energy intensive industry, while also fostering government relations.
The delegation will be one of the largest ever sent from Tasmania, with over 50 delegates from more than 30 individual businesses across 7 industry sectors forming the trade mission.
These include Hobart International Airport, Tasports, Tasmanian Fruit Growers Association, Tas Irrigation, Tasmanian Polar Network, Local Government and the University of Tasmania, as well as individual businesses, schools and industry representatives.
I am delighted that the delegation includes the Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Sue Hickey and Mayor of Launceston, Alderman Albert Van Zetten. In addition to advancing their individual councils and fostering government to government relations, the mayors are also marking the 35th anniversary of the Tasmania- Fujian sister state/province relationship, ahead of the 2016 Fujian Week celebrations.
The trade mission will visit 6 cities and attend over 30 engagements and events during the 8-day visit. The itinerary has been developed to provide opportunities to establish new relationships as well as build upon existing relationships, increase awareness and secure business opportunities from key Chinese buyers, investors and organisations.
A key event during the mission will be Savour Tasmania in China for the first time and I’m delighted the Premier will be joining the mission for this event as well as to support Tourism Tasmania’s mission that will be in Shanghai.
This year we are reinvigorating the Savour Tasmania concept by promoting premium Tasmanian food and beverages directly to our largest trading partner. Savour Tasmania-China will showcase, as it has done since its inception in 2009, premium Tasmanian food and beverages – this time to a high-end Chinese audience that will include buyers from the 5-star hospitality sector.
Some of the other itinerary highlights include:
• TasInvest Roundtables.
• China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT).
• First Joint Committee follow-up (under the Agreement on establishing the Joint Committee for Cooperation and Development between Tasmania and Fujian Province) in Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian Province.
• Meeting with the Polar Research Institute and the State Oceanic Administration of China.
• Education and business forums in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Fuzhou and Hainan.
• Visiting the Asia Fruit Logistica and Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
• Australia-China Business Week (ACBW) and Australian China Chamber of Commerce (AustCham) investment and trade functions.
• The signing and witnessing of a series of MOUs; and
• Engagements with senior government officials and individual businesses meetings.
The Hodgman Liberal Government has an important role to play in facilitating investment in our State.
Our focus is to ensure that we continue to provide local companies with the opportunities and support they need to pursue commercial negotiations, while also pursuing opportunities for investment into Tasmania.
Benefiting from China’s economic potential will happen through a partnership approach between the Chinese and Tasmanian governments, businesses, investors and individuals.
This mission will continue to promote this partnership approach with all parties having a part to play and over time we will see those benefits flow to Tasmanians through a stronger economy with increased job opportunities for Tasmanians.
Delegation itinerary – 2015 China trade and investment mission
Friday 4 September, Hong Kong
Asia Fruit Logistica
AustCham Investment and Trade Luncheon
Wine Masterclass, Renaissance Hotel
Tasmanian Schools Education Showcase, Grand Hyatt
Australian Vegetable industry dinner
Sunday 6 September, Haikou
Fly to Haikou
Monday 7 September, Haikou
TasInvest and Trade Promotion event (agrifood, tourism and tourism infrastructure, education)
Meeting with Hainan Government officials
Lunch arrangement with Hainan Government
Site visit and meeting with Hainan Airline Group
Site visit and meeting with Hainan State Farm Group
Site visit and meeting with Mission Hills Group
Depart Haikou for Fuzhou and Tasmania – Fujian week
Tuesday 8 September, Fuzhou, Fujian
First Joint Committee meeting follow-up meeting
Visit to Fuzhou No. 8 High School (with Launceston Mayor and Hobart Lord Mayor)
Meeting with Fujian officials
Fujian Week in Tasmania discussion
China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT)
Meeting with aviation sector
CIFIT China Banquet Dinner
Wednesday 9 September, Shanghai
Visit Polar Research Institute
Tasmanian Schools Education Showcase
Meeting with Senior Trade Commissioner, Austrade
Aquaculture buyer meeting
Savour Tasmania Gala Dinner, Peninsula Shanghai
Thursday 10 September, Beijing
Visit Bank of China
Austrade Podcast Interview
Visit to COFCO
Horticulture Innovation and signing ceremony at the Australian Embassy
UTAS partners dinner
Friday 11 September, Beijing
TasInvest Roundtable (Energy and Energy Incentive Industry) China World Summit Hotel
State Oceanic Administration of China (with UTAS and Antarctic sector)
Tasmanian Schools Education Showcase
Energy sector meetings and signings
Meeting with two Tianjin Colleges and TasTAFE
TasInvest Roundtable (Energy and Energy Incentive Industry)
Visit China Development Bank
Saturday 12 September, Jakarta
Fly to Jakarta
UTAS and maritime functions in Jakarta
Matthew Groom, Minister for State Growth
