New South Australian Regional Director for Southeast Asia
A new Regional Director for Southeast Asia, based in Singapore, has hit the ground running to ensure South Australian companies take advantage of the country’s strategic location, an ideal hub for international trade and investment.
Ms Natalya Twohill has been appointed as Regional Director, Southeast Asia having previously worked as the Director (Trade), Landing Pad, Technology for the Australian Trade and Investment Commission in Singapore. She has extensive technology, trade and investment experience across Southeast Asia and key experience in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.
“After two years supporting Austrade’s Technology Landing Pad initiative across the region, I look forward to joining South Australia’s Department of State Development as Regional Director, South-East Asia,” said Ms Twohill.
“This role presents an opportunity to leverage my public and private experience in the region to support the growth of South Australian businesses and contribute towards regional industry connections in priority sectors aligned with Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy.
“South Australia is a leader in Australia across so many areas, from premium food and wine to the green economy, space and technology developments – there is so much to offer that aligns with the interests of this region.”
Singapore is South Australia’s 17th largest merchandise export market, valued at $268.4 million in the year to May 2024, an increase of 2.5 per cent. Investment from Singapore is valued at $1.26 billion with 1,641 jobs created between January 2003 and December 2023.
The Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement which was signed in 2003 and updated again in December 2020 to include the Australia-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement, improves market access for exporters of services, including education, environmental, telecommunications and professional services, as well as the elimination of tariffs.
Ms Twohill will also support South Australian companies looking to take advantage of the Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement signed in 2022, which aims to accelerate the transition to a green and sustainable future. South Australia’s first-mover advantage in renewable energy leadership is world-renowned and the state is working towards sourcing 100 per cent of its electricity generation from renewables by 2027.
Premier Malinauskas visited Singapore in September 2023 where he met with Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Low Yen Ling, multinational’s including Temasek and Trafigura, held discussions with the city’s planning authority and hosted an investment round table.
The South Australian Government’s investment in the growing Southeast Asia export market is already showing results, with exports to Southeast Asia accounting for 23.3 per cent of South Australia’s total exports figure, reaching $4.09 billion.
Recently, Ms Twohill has supported Her Excellency, the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, the Governor of South Australia, in Thailand, meeting with government officials and industry leaders.
Ms Twohill will be supported in-market by Martin Haese, the State Government’s Trade and Investment Special Envoy to Singapore and Southeast Asia. They will work together to deepen trade relationships with the region and to generate further investment opportunities for South Australia.
For further information about how Ms Twohill can assist companies to build relationships across Southeast Asia visit www.invest.sa.gov.au/global_offices/south-east-asia