SA sets up office in Washington DC

South Australia will open a trade and investment office in Washington DC, expanding its presence in the United States.

 

Trade and Investment Minister Nick Champion made the announcement in Washington DC today, as part of a trade mission with a specific focus on South Australia’s leading role in the AUKUS agreement. 

 

The United States is South Australia’s second largest export market with the value of exported goods into the country, which was valued at approximately $1.58 billion in the year ending March 2023. The US is also the State’s single largest foreign investor.

 

The Washington DC office will provide for greater proximity to the US Defence department and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as South Australia grows its advanced manufacturing capabilities. 

 

The office is being established as the potential for investment related to South Australia’s Hydrogen Jobs Plan grows, as the US works towards decarbonisation.

 

Washington DC is home to the biggest centre for biomedical research in the world, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with nearly 6000 scientists – 148 current and former NIH-supported researchers have received Nobel Prizes. 

 

The Washington announcement comes a month after the State Government announced that Frankfurt, Germany would also get its own trade and investment office – establishing a permanent presence in Europe’s largest economy. 

 

While in the United States, Minister Champion will promote South Australia’s own bio-medical precinct – on North Terrace – when he visits BIO US in Boston this week. The event will have an audience of more than 14,000 biotechnology and pharma leaders.