Australia and Japan have a strong long-term relationship. Japan is Australia’s second-largest trading and foreign investment partner, with Japanese businesses providing Australians with access to technology and investment that supports critical sectors. Our countries are both part of the Quad partnership, which is committed to supporting a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. Today, we are extending our long history by working together to address the rapid change required to meet the energy transition challenge and on the development of advanced manufacturing in a digital age.

CIMIC Group is eager to play its part in supporting the bi-lateral relationship by partnering with our Japanese friends to grow both economies and facilitate the energy transition which is so important to both nations. We are continuing to expand our connections with Japan and Japanese companies in three key areas:

1. the development of renewable energy sources (including hydrogen);
2. the continued provision of general resources during the energy transition; and
3. through technology, for example digital solutions and equipment and advanced healthcare.

Technological, construction and financial partnerships between our countries are critical to addressing the decarbonisation and digitalisation challenges that we both face. CIMIC Group has capability in all phases and all elements of renewable and traditional energy to support the energy transition. We are working actively in all areas of the renewables sector, and one of our objectives is to bring together the right partners to deliver an all-encompassing Australian sourced hydrogen solution to meet Japan’s long term energy demand.

This is a journey, over many years, and with many phases, starting out with small steps, that are achievable today, and moving towards a 100% clean green energy supply over the next decades to 2050. We are here to deliver solutions to the challenges we jointly face. It is my view that such solutions that can only be delivered through real partnership based on trust.