- Cook Government opens second Invest and Trade Office in
China
- New office located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province - one of
WA's sister states
- Expanded presence complements existing Shanghai office and
will help to drive trade opportunities that support WA jobs
The Cook Government is
continuing to drive new trade and investment opportunities for Western
Australia, today announcing it has established a second trade office in China.
Located in Hangzhou, the
new office will help to deepen WA's longstanding relationship with Zhejiang
Province and promote further economic opportunities between the sister-states.
WA is the only Australian
state to have a presence in Zhejiang Province, which is one of China's most
economically advanced provinces. Zhejiang Province has a population of around
65 million and is home to several major technology companies, including Alibaba
Group.
In May 2022, WA renewed
its sister-state agreement with Zhejiang Province, with a focus on expanding
trade opportunities in primary industries, technology, new energy and health and
medical life sciences.
WA's universities also
share strong collaborative relationships with their Zhejiang counterparts in
research and development.
The Hangzhou office will
be overseen by WA's Investment and Trade Commissioner for Greater China, and supported
by three locally engaged staff, including a dedicated Education Business
Development Manager.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"China is our largest
trading partner, and the opening of the new Hangzhou office reflects our
ongoing commitment to developing new trade and investment opportunities to
support local jobs.
"We've enjoyed a
sister-state relationship with Zhejiang Province for more than 30 years, and
with rapidly growing opportunities in clean energy, technology and primary
industries, now is the time to step up our engagement.
"A strong trading
relationship with China will help to ensure our economy remains strong long
into the future, helping to support local jobs right across WA."
