Victoria recognises and celebrates ten years of the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA)
It has been ten years since the signing of the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA), a milestone that marked not just a trade policy agreement, but also the enduring bond between the two countries.
JAEPA entered into force in January 2015. Over the past decade, the agreement has played a pivotal role in the diversification of both countries’ economies by expanding trade relations and market access for businesses and investors across a range of sectors, including agriculture and processed foods, resources, manufacturing and services.
Since 2015, Victoria’s trade with Japan has demonstrated strong and stable growth, with further opportunities in food and beverages, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and new energy — areas where both nations see potential for growth and innovation.
Industry highlights
Promoting Geelong to Japan
The City of Greater Geelong serves as a key example of innovation and growth in the Victoria-Japan relationship.
Geelong is home to the Advanced Fibre Cluster, a centre of excellence and cluster of companies and organisations specialising in advanced fibre and composites manufacturing. This includes accelerating innovation in carbon fibre, which has a range of applications from agriculture, search and rescue, and aerospace to elite sports.
To highlight the innovative cluster and the opportunities they present for collaboration with Japan, Global Victoria partnered with the Australia Japan Business Council of Victoria (AJBCV), Geelong Gallery, Advanced Fibre Cluster, City of Greater Geelong and LSRM Trading to deliver the Japan and the Geelong Opportunity program.
The program included a tour of Carbon Nexus, followed by a visit to Quickstep to highlight the innovative offerings of Victorian businesses and institutions located in the Cluster, such as Sykes Rowing and Deakin University.
The tour was followed by a networking event and viewing of a new exhibition at the Geelong Gallery: Cutting Through Time showcasing the best of collaboration through design between Australia and Japan.
The visit emphasised the strong and growing trade and investment links between Geelong and Japan. It also illustrates Geelong’s International Engagement strategy in practice and demonstrates the value and importance of the Victoria-Japan bilateral relationship.
Global Victoria looks forward to continuing to support Victorian businesses interested in exporting to Japan, as well as promoting the state as a place to visit, study, do business and invest.
Global Victoria facilitates strategic partnerships with Japan through our Tokyo VGTI office and offers a range of services to maximise trade outcomes for Victorian businesses. That includes supporting trade missions, leveraging industry networks, and providing market intelligence to facilitate market entry and expansion into Japan.
Forward Look
AJBCC Conference (October 2024, Nagoya, Japan)
This year’s conference theme is New Beginnings – the Australia-Japan Business Partnership on the Global Stage, which expands on the celebration of last year’s landmark 60th conference in Melbourne.
More information here.
Osaka Expo (April to October 2025, Osaka, Japan)
Japan will be organising the next World Expo in Osaka, Kansai, from 13 April to 13 October 2025. Under the theme Designing Future Society for Our Lives, the Expo is expected to host 28 million visitors.