News

A festive-season chat with Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner – Latin America, Alex Passagno

How are Christmas and New Year celebrated in Latin America? Christmas is celebrated at home with family. Family members share a late dinner and a toast at midnight to celebrate the arrival of Christmas Day. Gifts are opened the next morning. This is similar for New Year’s, with the addition of a lot of fireworks!

What’s one standout achievement for TIQ LatAm in 2018? The successful introduction of the Queensland METS company Phibion to the region. Phibion won the Environmental Solutions Award at this year’s Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards, and they’re bringing new technology to manage tailing dams in Latin America. They have orders from Bolivia and strong interest from other LatAm markets, so they’re really making a strong impact in the region.

What are you most looking forward to in 2019? Continuing to work with our clients, bringing new exporters to the region, and continuing to promote Queensland as an excellent study destination in Australia.

Any new year’s message you’d like to share with Queensland exporters? Start 2019 looking east towards Latin America! TIQ Latin America can help your new year be merry and bright, with new sales opportunities and strategies to grow your business.

A festive-season chat with Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner – Hong Kong, Julie-Anne Nichols

How is the festive season celebrated in Hong Kong? Given Hong Kong’s colonial heritage, Christmas has long been celebrated here. The city transforms into a winter wonderland, complete with the smell of real fir trees and roasting chestnuts, ham and turkey! Locals enjoy Christmas and new year dining, shopping, and a chance to celebrate with family and friends over the public holidays. New Year’s Eve is marked by a firework display over the harbour. It’s definitely one of my favourite times to be in Hong Kong.

What were some standout achievements for TIQ Hong Kong in 2018? One highlight was leveraging Queensland’s role as host of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games to raise the state’s profile in the innovation, health and aged-care sectors. These are areas of real opportunity for Queensland-Hong Kong partnerships and collaboration.

Also the conclusion of negotiations for the Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement in November was an exciting milestone.

What are you most looking forward to in 2019? As the new year rings in, my line of horizon will extend beyond the Greater Bay to that of Greater China. I’m delighted to be taking on the role of Queensland Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for Greater China, covering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau region from the TIQ Shanghai office.

And it will be an auspicious year as Queensland looks to celebrate its 30-year anniversary of being a sister state with Shanghai.

Any new year’s message you’d like to share with Queensland exporters? Thank you for your valued support, contributions and exchanges with our TIQ offices in Greater China in 2018. We look forward to working with you to make 2019 another productive and rewarding year.

As 2019 dawns, we’re looking forward to another year of exciting trade and investment events around the world.

Events like Natural Products Expo West in California this March, Austmine 2019 in Brisbane in May, London Tech Week in June, and Food and Hotel China at the end of the year …

TIQ will have a presence at all of these events, and many more.

And, at every one, we’ll be connecting Queensland business to global opportunities.

For more information, see our full events calendar or make 2019 the year that you connect with TIQ.

A festive-season chat with Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner – India, Gitesh Agarwal

How is the festive season celebrated in India? Christmas and New Year are celebrated with great participation from almost the entire country. The major cities wear red and Santa caps can be seen at almost every traffic signal. There is music, festive décor, big sales of everything money can buy! There are kids singing carols and you can hear music everywhere.

What have been some standout achievements for TIQ India in 2018? The most recent has been an excellent visit by Minister Kate Jones to release Queensland’s first-ever country-specific strategy, the Queensland-India Trade and Investment Strategy.

Earlier in the year, we were able to profile Queensland’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games, and a 15-member delegation as well as the Minister of Sport from the Gujarat Government were hosted at the Gold Coast.

What are you most looking forward to in 2019? We are looking forward to setting the milestones for the Queensland-India Strategy to start working on the long-term delivery. Also, India is going to be in federal election mode and, given some recent results across 3 heartland states, the election promises to be an edge-of-the-seat thriller.

Any new year’s message you’d like to share with Queensland exporters? Absolutely. Queensland owns more than 60% of the Australian trade with India. Queensland is a key partner, collaborator and supporter of India’s aspirations in energy, infrastructure, food, education, skills, and health. We should build on that and position ourselves as the ‘go-to’ state as India continues its economic march.

I am also a firm believer that there is a strong opportunity for an ‘innovation bridge’ between India and Queensland, as the young people of both geographies are aiming to disrupt the world with tech solutions to global challenges. And there is money on both sides, which is more than willing to give roots and wings to such ideas and creativity.

TIQ’s India office would love to help any exporter or investor interested in connecting.

A festive-season chat with Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner – Middle East, Donna Massie

Is the festive season celebrated in the Middle East? If so, how? The festive season is in full swing in the UAE. Christmas carols are playing joyously on the radio stations (little too much Bing Crosby for my taste, but, hey) and every hotel foyer has a huge Christmas tree. Santa’s grottos are everywhere and they even host an annual Christmas market in town.

We are receiving happy Christmas wishes from Muslim friends and colleagues on a daily basis – we all embrace a celebration in the Middle East, regardless of religious beliefs. Christmas lights adorn shopping centres and residences. Hotels are offering special deals for Christmas lunch, and turkeys and mince pies are abundant in the supermarkets.

What was one standout achievement for TIQ Middle East in 2018? We opened the Queensland Innovation Hub at Dubai South!

What are you most looking forward to in 2019? We are looking forward to working on the build-up to Expo2020 in Dubai and to finalising several strategic projects at Dubai South. We are also excited about several inbound investments into Queensland we hope to announce in the new year!

Any end-of-year message you’d like to share with Queensland exporters? Please watch the Expo2020 portal for export opportunities and don’t hesitate to contact TIQ’s Middle East office for support.

Also, 2019 has been declared the Year of Tolerance here in the United Arab Emirates – please celebrate it with us. As His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, says: ‘Tolerance is the cornerstone of advanced societies, intellectually and humanely, and is one of the tools of empowering civilizations and ensuring stability and the flourishing of nations.’

A festive-season chat with Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner – Taiwan, Patrick Hafenstein

How is Christmas celebrated in Taiwan? Mainly in the commercial sense – the shopping centres have fully embraced the occasion, with Christmas decorations and sales enticing people to shop. Hotels, restaurants and bakeries also run Christmas themes, from decorations through to the food on the menus. Buildings are lit up, including at the New Taipei City Hall’s Citizen Plaza and the famous Taipei 101. But there’s no public holiday and it’s business as usual.

What’s one standout achievement for TIQ Taiwan in 2018? Securing a curriculum licensing deal between Yuteh Private School in New Taipei City and the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority. For the first time, the Australian curriculum will be offered in Taiwan and it’s also the first time that Taiwan offers a public school curriculum from overseas. This means Taiwanese school graduates can gain direct entry into any Australian university direct from Taiwan.

What are you most looking forward to in 2019? Our big event is shaping up to be the 2019 Smart City Summit and Expo in Taipei in March. We’ve received EOIs from more than 10 Queensland councils to attend and just as many business delegates. It’s an opportunity to really build the reputation of Queensland as a leading innovation state.

Any end-of-year message you’d like to share with Queensland exporters? Taiwan is a dynamic powerhouse open for business. Despite being more than 200 times smaller than Australia in area, it has a population of 23 million people and punches far above its weight, coming in as Queensland’s fifth-largest merchandise export destination. It’s easy to get to, with daily direct flights from Brisbane, and it’s the perfect addition to your next overseas business trip. TIQ Taiwan would be very happy to put together an action-packed 2–3 day program for you!

Season’s greetings to all our wonderful Queensland exporters and our global partners – thank you for your trade and investment achievements throughout 2018.

Because of you, communities around the world enjoy Queensland’s world-class products 365 days a year.

And, as many countries begin a period of feasting and gift-giving, Queensland products may well be part of the festivities.

For example, in 2017–18, Queensland exported around:

• 586,000kg of ham
• 439,000kg of lobster
• more than 12,000 tonnes of macadamia nuts
• $3.1 million worth of toys.

Enjoy your break if you are having one, and we look forward to more successful collaborations in 2019.

TIQ’s Queensland offices will close from Tuesday 25 December 2018 and will reopen on Wednesday 2 January 2019.

Many of our overseas offices will stay open throughout the Christmas – New Year period.

You can contact any TIQ office during the holiday period using our online enquiry form.

Ready-to-eat beetroot produced by Queensland company One Harvest is now being sold in supermarkets across Japan.

Vacuum-packed Love Beets are pre-cooked, ‘no mess’ beetroots, free from salt, sugar or any other additives.

TIQ introduced One Harvest to Japanese distributor Wismettac, which is now shipping Love Beets to around 200 stores across Japan.

One Harvest Export Business Manager Sarah Huntley said the company was delighted to secure the distribution deal with Wismettac, and appreciated the support received from TIQ’s Tokyo office.

‘Wismettac has a wide distribution network throughout Japan and we are very excited it has decided to get behind our product and introduce it to Japanese consumers,’ she said.

‘In markets such as Japan it’s vital to have an in-market presence, and TIQ’s Tokyo office has provided us with invaluable on-the-ground support.

‘These exports are a great example of industry and government working in partnership, which is an essential ingredient for export success, particularly in Asia.’

Wismettac General Manager Yoshimitsu Chiba said beetroot was not familiar to Japanese consumers, but shoppers loved its colour and novelty and were impressed by its Australian origins.

‘Love Beets is a new product to the Japanese market and we have introduced it to 8 retail chains and 178 stores,’ Mr Chiba said.

‘We are working very closely with retailers to educate consumers about beetroot, how to use it, store it.

‘We are also doing in-store sampling to provide further encouragement to purchase.

‘We work with suppliers around the world, but Japanese consumers have a very high regard for Australian product and farmers.’

Mr Chiba and Wismettac CEO Hiroshi Tsujikawa met Queensland Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner in September during the Minister’s trade mission to Japan, when all three visited a store for a Love Beets’ promotion and tasting.

Mr Furner also visited the Kawasaki branch of the Costco chain, which is also selling Love Beets.

One Harvest is headquartered in the Brisbane suburb of Wacol, and produces a range of processed salads and vegetables at factories in Brisbane, Sydney, Bairnsdale and Perth.

Love Beets are also sold in Queensland through most major food retailers and some smaller speciality food chains.

In 2017–18, Japan imported $16.7 million worth of fruit and vegetables from Queensland.

Agricultural products are identified as one of Queensland’s traditional export strengths in the Queensland Trade and Investment Strategy 2017–2022.

Minister Mark Furner samples Love Beets in Japan in September this year.

A Queensland company offering a new and better way to produce essential battery materials is making connections in the European market with TIQ’s support.

Brisbane-based Pure Battery Technologies (PBT) has commercialised a cheaper, more effective and more environmentally friendly way of extracting nickel and cobalt from low-grade ore.

The process is based on work originally carried out by metallurgists at The University of Queensland.

PBT Managing Director and CEO Bjorn Zikarsky said global demand for batteries was growing at about 15% each year, with the increasing popularity of electric vehicles a major factor.

‘This is driving up demand for both nickel and cobalt, with the demand for cobalt exceeding supply globally,’ he said.

‘We are using UQ’s patented acid leaching process to produce battery-ready nickel and cobalt products more easily, and at lower capital and operational expense.

‘This process also offers a higher cobalt recovery than is currently possible, is energy-efficient with little solid waste or tailings, and has a very small footprint.’

PBT is establishing a demonstration plant in Brisbane, and plans to open a manufacturing plant in Townsville.

Mr Zikarsky was in London in late November, where he met with 14 potential investors and partners at a roundtable organised by TIQ’s London office.

Queensland Deputy Trade and Investment Commissioner for Europe Warren Bartlett said interest in the new extraction technology was strong.

‘There are major opportunities and challenges associated with the global scramble to replace fossil fuels with clean energy,’ Mr Bartlett said.

‘Worldwide, we have rapidly growing demand for smart devices and vehicles that need batteries, and this is creating major interest in battery-critical materials like lithium, nickel and cobalt.

‘As demand for those materials rises, along with their cost, there’s a major opportunity for the cost-effective process being offered by Pure Battery Technologies.’

Mr Bartlett said the roundtable had also identified opportunities to address environmental issues related to battery production.

‘Interestingly, the roundtable discussion with industry stakeholders also highlighted the equally important issue of spiralling environmental costs associated with battery production,’ he said.

‘PBT’s unique process also offers environmental improvements in the downstream processing of nickel and cobalt.

‘We’re looking forward to working with PBT and will continue to encourage European battery producers, electric-vehicle manufacturers and industry stakeholders to monitor the progress of PBT’s demonstration plant in Queensland.’

TIQ Mining and Resources staff in Brisbane are also working with PBT to explore international export and investment opportunities.

Queensland is gaining international prominence in battery and electric-vehicle technology, with local company Tritium also making global inroads with its high-powered chargers for electric vehicles.

Tritium was recently named Queensland’s Exporter of the Year at the Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards 2018.

Advanced manufacturing is identified as one of Queensland’s emerging export strengths in the Queensland Trade and Investment Strategy 2017–2022.

Linda Apelt, Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner for Europe, addresses the roundtable.

Three projects to boost the number of overseas students coming to Townsville have received $158,000 from the Queensland Government’s International Education and Training Partnership Fund.

The new projects will target student markets in China, the USA and Singapore.

Grants were awarded to:

• the China Market Activation Project – to increase the number of Chinese students in Townsville
• the Townsville NQ International Edutourism project – to attract new edutourism study groups to the Townsville region
• the Study Townsville Regional Brand Activation project – to promote the Study Queensland brand through a range of region-specific marketing materials.

The funds will be used to undertake agent familiarisations, social-media marketing activity, and targeted in-market sales missions.

Townsville received the largest allocation of any region in the latest round of grants from the partnership fund.

The grants have been matched with $158,000 from Townsville City Council and stakeholders.

Townsville Deputy Mayor Les Walker said Townsville was an ideal study location offering world-class education and an attractive tropical lifestyle to international students.

‘Townsville City Council is investing towards bringing up to 1,000 more international students to study in our city – which helps boost our economy and create jobs for locals,’ Cr Walker said.

‘Townsville is home to a range of world-class education institutions to provide quality study opportunities for international students.

‘Our tropical city provides students with an attractive lifestyle and great study options that you can’t get anywhere else.’International education and training supports more than 21,000 jobs across Queensland, with more than 120,000 students enrolled each year.

The latest round of partnership fund recipients was announced in November 2018, with 20 projects receiving more than $600,000 in grants, and local consortia contributing close to the same amount.

International education and training is identified as Queensland second-most valuable services export in the Queensland Trade and Investment Strategy 2017–2022.

The partnership fund is an initiative of the International Education and Training Strategy to Advance Queensland 2016–2026.

Study Queensland representatives and Townsville international ed providers celebrate the new funding.