Hunter Industry on Show for Japan’s Investment Leaders

[By: Business Hunter]

The Hunter region’s future for global investment attraction and industrial growth received a  boost today, with Investment NSW bringing Japan’s Ambassador to Australia and the  Japanese Consul General in Sydney to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. 

The visit has signalled to Hunter businesses that there is a growing view internationally that  the region is establishing itself as a global gateway to new industries and resources.  
Investment NSW Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to Japan, Mike Newman,  reached out to Business Hunter and Hunternet to plan a visit by the Ambassador, His  Excellency Shingo Yamagami, the Japanese Consul General in Sydney, Kiya Masahiko, and  key Japanese government and business delegates including from the Japan External Trade  Organisation (JETRO) and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC). 

“We met with Hunter business and industry leaders as well as research leaders in hydrogen  energy last year, and it was clear to our team then that the Hunter was a region ready to  leverage its global freight and transport infrastructure to capitalise on growing international  interests in trade, energy, and the visitor economy. 

“Significant interest exists in how the Hunter region is making its move to scaled renewables  and clean energy like hydrogen as a baseload alternative to coal. Japan is very interested in  the journey the Hunter is on to support a transition to a clean energy economy,” Mr Newman said.  

Business Hunter CEO, Bob Hawes said that businesses in the Hunter were proving  themselves as adaptable and strategic, recognising that a balanced transition to new  energies over the next thirty years posed more opportunities for investment and jobs growth. 

“The Hunter is aligning itself as a key strategic energy investment centre for markets like  Japan to take up our Hydrogen and other clean energy products. Given they currently take  up forty percent of the Hunter’s global coal exports, this is a significant relationship to bring  along on an energy transition,” Mr Hawes said. 

“We’ve also had the opportunity to show the global trade, investment and tourism market our strong pipeline of international gateway infrastructure expansions that will support a  considerable uptick in freight and export capacity – particularly from our growing airport and Port.” 

“The Japanese Ambassador’s visit is a clear signal that our on-shore government  understands our region’s strong potential in off-shore markets, and that’s a positive signal for
businesses looking to identify their own industrial growth into new energy or other  international trade opportunities,” Mr Hawes said.  

Hunternet CEO, Ivan Waterfield said that the Hunter’s infrastructure, technology and  sovereign manufacturing abilities –were clear advantages for showcasing our capability. 

“We have a strong Hunter hydrogen technology cluster, NewH2, driving collaborative and  comprehensive regional investment and advancement in hydrogen technology and  industries that will support it,” Mr Waterfield said.  

“This puts us several steps ahead in terms of securing investment and building a viable  energy ecosystem that will support ongoing industrial growth in this area. Our manufactures  are already showing their diversity capabilities in this area while they also continue to  support their current requirements 

“Today has been a fantastic showcase of how comprehensive we are as a region for  industry investment, and how easy we are to do business with,” Mr Waterfield said. 

ABOUT THE VISIT 

The Japanese delegation will visit several Hunter businesses today and receive briefings  from the Port of Newcastle, Hunter Hydrogen Taskforce, Hunter Hydrogen Technology Cluster NewH2, Orica, Newcastle Airport and Ampcontrol, and will join a Hunter Energy  Investment roundtable hosted by Business Hunter and Hunternet showcasing energy  technologies from Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources, AGL Ltd, Energy  Renaissance, and Port Waratah Coal. 

Destination NSW will present the Hunter as an international gateway destination to the  delegation at a dinner hosted by Investment NSW in the Hunter Valley.