Resource, energy and manufacturing China opportunity to be explored

The world’s busiest trading port and the world’s fourth largest steel producer will be on show to a cohort of Australian energy, resources and manufacturing businesses when they head to China in October this year on the AccessChina’16 Business Delegation.

The delegation, hosted by Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE), will depart from Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport bound for Shanghai, China on October 23, and will see over 200 businesses head to China to investigate and activate opportunities for their business in the powerhouse Chinese market.

Energy and Resources and Manufacturing and Sustainable Design are two of six key streams that will be explored during the five-day program.

China is Australia’s largest energy and resources market, with exports totalling more than $67 billion in 2014-2015.

The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) has provided greater certainty for exporters by locking in current zero tariffs on major resources and energy producers, including iron ore, gold, crude petroleum oils and liquefied natural gas.

TSBE Executive Chairman Mr Shane Charles highlighted that exports to China for Australian manufacturing companies, currently worth $4 billion in 2014-15, are also continuing to grow, especially for those seeing to supply goods to China’s rapidly expanding middle class.

“Traditionally, we know that energy and resource exports to China have done very well for Australia,” Mr Charles said.

“We have seen a shift recently in China from an industrial based growth and export led economy to a consumption led economy which has seen less of a focus on energy intensive industries.

“Having said that, there are still major opportunities for companies operating in the energy, resources and manufacturing sectors to learn more about how they can leverage elements of the changing economy to supply to the booming Chinese economy.”

On Day One of AccessChina’16, delegates from the energy and resources and manufacturing and sustainable design sectors will hear from industry leaders working within Asian markets.

Speakers would include Peter Arkell from Carrington Day, Paul Glasson from Satori Investments, Ren Binyan from Rio Tinto and Shi Zhenchun formerly from Peabody Energy.

The following days will see delegates head out to see Yangshan Deepwater Port, the world’s busiest trading port which handles a staggering 32 million containers a year, Lonking’s headquarters in Shanghai, and the Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation’s headquarters.

Baosteel is the fourth largest steel producer in the world measured by crude steel output.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for businesses looking to grow their business into the lucrative China market to get a taste of what these businesses look like, how they operate and the potential for the businesses,” Dr Lyons said.