Year End: Thank You

Year End: Thank You

There was no let up in the development of Australia Japan relations and business activity in 2017. Setting the tone that the year would indeed be a busy one, January kicked off with a visit to Sydney by Japan’s Prime Minister Abe. He was accompanied by a business delegation who met with the AJBCC Executive and AJBCC members at a number of functions held during the brief visit. As the year rolled on, there were numerous cases of further Japanese direct investment in Australia in an ever diversifying range of sectors. A number of celebrations during the year commemorated the 60th anniversary of the historic 1957 Australia-Japan Commerce Agreement. In October the AJBCC’s Joint Business Conference was held in Tokyo with the highest number of delegates in attendance in over 20 years – see below. There is no doubt that there is a resurgence of business interest and activity with Japan. New life was breathed into the Australia-Japan tourism market with the much needed increase in airline capacity on the direct route coming to fruition – a further affirmation of the uptick in activity.

2018 is already shaping up to be an active year.

To all of our members and to others who support the Australia-Japan relationship, I look forward to working with you in 2018 and wish you all the best for the festive season.

David Jacobs CEO