Adelaide bids to host major Japan business event

03 Apr 2023
The South Australian Government has made a bid for Adelaide to host a major annual Japanese business event, which would provide exposure for South Australia into the country’s trade and investment market.
  
Australia-Japan Business Co-Operation Committee (AJBCC) Joint Conference helps promote and increase business opportunities and strengthen ties between Australia and Japan – driving investment opportunities with one of South Australia’s biggest trading partners.
  
Since its inception in 1962, the annual joint conference has strived to contribute to the development of the Japan-Australia economic relationship.
  
The bid to host the next joint conference in Adelaide follows a meeting between Trade and Investment Minister Nick Champion and the Japan-Australia Business Co-Operation committee chair Michiaki Hirose during the recent trade mission to Japan. This was Minister Champion’s second visit since his appointment as Trade and Investment Minister, and he used the opportunity to put forward South Australia’s case to host.
  
Should South Australia secure the rights to the AJBCC Joint Conference it would be the first time since 1990 the conference has been held in South Australia.
  
The Joint Conference draws pre-eminent speakers from Japanese and Australian business communities and senior governmental representation from both nations to the annual joint conference and would see hundreds of Japanese and Australian business leaders descend upon Adelaide.
  
Hosting the conference would see a significant investment footprint enter South Australia while providing attendees the opportunity to taste our State’s premium produce, explore our innovation precincts and clean energy investment opportunities. 
  
The 59th joint conference, attended in Tokyo by Peter Malinauskas on his first overseas mission as Premier, provided a unique opportunity to promote South Australia’s credentials as a clean energy superpower – leading the challenge of decarbonisation.
  
Adelaide had previously secured the rights to host the 2020 Conference, with the event unable to proceed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and closure of international borders.
  
The South Australian Government will be sending a strong contingent to the AJBCC’s Diamond Anniversary, being held in Melbourne later this year.
  
Japan is South Australia’s seventh-largest export destination, worth more than $646 million in the 12 months to January 2023 and is the world’s third-largest economy.
  
Key sectors include energy, health and medical, food, wine, and agribusiness – with South Australian food and beverages representing nearly half of total export value.