Gateways to the region - Australian business in Asia

Business Asia, August, 2001 by Nadia Cameron

MANY AUSTRALIAN businesses are keen to expand into the Asian region for new investment, partnership, and import and export opportunities, but often find the first step both a difficult and daunting one.

Business Asia has taken up the challenge and presents you with a guide to the who's who of Asia's trade offices.

Japan External Trade Organisation -- JETRO

Primarily focused on small and medium businesses, Japan's external trade organisation JETRO is committed to assisting Australian companies looking to expand into the Japanese market.

According to Mathew Terpstra, trade development officer at JETRO, the group's main purpose is to provide opportunities for Australian companies to do business in Japan with Japanese partners.

Alongside its extensive website and export seminars in urban and rural Australia every year, the group provides a mix of assistance programs, information and funding to businesses from all types of industries.

The organisation has also initiated an internationally based trade database, labelled the "Trade Tie-Up" promotion program, which provides Australian registered businesses with a list of potential partners in Japan.

Despite the strength of trade relations between Australia and Japan, Terpstra says Australian companies are still hesitant about conducting business in Japan.

"The biggest job is to get Australians to look into Japan. Many won't spend the money necessary to build up business in Japan. It is an expensive market, and is not an easy market," he said.

"Japan does, however, present lots of rewards. Unlike Australia, you only need to have a small part of the market to do well."

Contact: Japan External Trade Organisation
(JETRO)
Level 19, Gateway,
I Macquarie Place, Sydney, 2001
Phone: (02) 9241 1181
Website: www.jetro.org.au
International website: www.jetro.go.jp

Singapore Trade Development Board

The Australian-based Singapore Trade Development Board (STDB) is a facilitation agency, providing both Australian and Singaporean businesses with information and assistance for furthering their business ties.

An honorary representative office for the national trade agency in Singapore, the STDB's function is to promote trade and investment between the two countries and assist both parties in accessing the most comprehensive information on business and trade.

As a whole, the main aim of the STDB is to promote Singapore as a premier international trading hub. While the national office is focused on promoting Singapore and Singaporean business, the Australian office caters for both Singaporean and Australian groups wanting to invest or trade in the two countries. The organisation provides businesses with contact details for industry associations and organisations where two-way trading is involved, as well as assisting Australians wanting to live and work in Singapore.

Contact: Singapore Trade Development Board
9th Floor, 1 Chifley Square, Sydney, 2001
Phone: (02) 9223 5357
International website: www.stdb.com
Contact Singapore
Website: www.contactsingapore.org.sg

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) has two main tasks: to foster relations between both Hong Kong and Australia, and Hong Kong and New Zealand.

HKETO is primarily a facilitation agency, providing consultancy and training services, as well as information on patent grants, export credit insurance, business licensing services, tax structure and specific industries in Hong Kong. Like Austrade, the organisation is focused on ensuring Australian companies can participate in the Hong Kong market, and will link businesses with Hong Kong partners as well as provide guidance on government regulation and requirements. The HKETO also regularly liaises with the Australian Government and maintains a police liaison officer to keep the communication channels between Hong Kong and Australia open.

Contact: Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Level 1, 80 Druitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2001 Phone: (02) 9283 3222 Website: www.hketosydney.org.au

China Consulate Sydney -- Economic and Commercial Office

The Economic and Commercial Office (ECO) divides its services into two main areas -- investment and import/export.

Linked to the China Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation and based in Sydney, the ECO upholds relationships with Australian government organisations such as Austrade, Departments of State and Regional Developments throughout Australia, the Australia-China Business Council, as well as a variety of groups based in China, and prides itself on its facilitation and organisational abilities.

The ECO has organised several delegations to visit investment and import/export forums in China, including the latest investment event, the China Fair for International Investment and Trade, which will be held in Xiamen, Fujian in September this year.

The ECO also boasts of a network of Chinese contacts, which provides new exporters and investors with an inlet into the Chinese market.

Contact: China Consulate Sydney -- Economic and
Commercial Office
68 George Street, Redfern, NSW, 2016
Phone: (02) 9698 7838
Website: www.chinaconsulatesyd.org/trade/