Mr BALCH - 1999-08-10
I am aware that the Northern Territory has been forging stronger trade ties with China. Recently we saw evidence of this in the large Chinese delegation in attendance at NT Expo. What opportunities arise from these linkages?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, indeed we saw a very large contingent of Chinese delegates attending NT Expo. In fact, some 40 government and business people came to Expo last month from China. This demonstrates in a real way the commitment that is developing to fostering trade ties between the Northern Territory and China.
Further to that commitment, officers from my Department of Asian Relations and Trade recently visited southern China to progress trade relationships. They have reported some very interesting prospects. These officers met with people running the highly-successful Panyu Xiangjiangafari park in southern China. The directors last week paid a return visit to the Northern Territory, meeting with Darwin-based International Wildlife Management, and they negotiated a consultancy in a number of areas: The breeding, incubation and raising of crocodiles; the processing of crocodile meat and skins; the manufacture and marketing of crocodile products; the extension and enhancement of existing tourism facilities; the provision of crocodile management courses; and advice on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The Northern Territory directors of International Wildlife Management will begin consultancy arrangements later on this month.
The Guangxi provincial government has also requested the assistance of the Northern Territory government in providing information on beef and dairy cattle breeding stock and also on seeds for high-nutrition pasture. Department of Asian Relations and Trade and the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries officers are liaising very closely with local livestock exporters, the dairy industry and other agencies to compile proposals in the Chinese language relating to these particular opportunities.
A visit to NT Expo of a large delegation from Anhui province led to a dialogue with DPIF and livestock exporters on the export of cattle from the Territory. I think at a later stage the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries may have some exciting news. We’re keeping our fingers crossed, but officers and government people are working very hard to progress that.
Needs have also been identified for assistance to Guangxi province in tropical horticulture, including post-harvest handling of tropical fruits, processing of fruits through pitting, peeling and dehydration to increase shelf life and produce high-value-added product, and the design and supply of processing equipment and biotechnology services to improve quality and yield. The provincial government has appointed a private company to source these services and equipment and my department has been working to bring together the expertise and the equipment suppliers to maximise benefits to the Territory.
Furthermore, last month Don Cole, the Trade Commissioner to China, addressed an International Business Council luncheon on trade and business opportunities emerging in the region. He was quite bullish about the prospects for our companies.
As well, much has been said about China’s decision to use liquefied natural gas for future energy requirements. This presents an enormous opportunity for the export of LNG from Australia. The Northern Territory government has been working closely with the Western Australian government and Australian producers to maximise opportunities for Australian-sourced LNG for this market. I think we’re all well aware of the previous work by the member for Port Darwin in this area. Both the Chief Minister and I will be visiting China this year to further that opportunity.
The opposition speaks about cheap electricity. Believe you me, our efforts are concentrated on bringing gas onshore. When that comes we will have cheaper power and we will have more jobs. We will have manufacturing in the petrochemical area and right across the board because our energy will be cheaper. That’s what we’re committing ourselves to. We have been for a number of years and we will continue to do that so that we can ensure that those developments benefit Territorians.
The future is looking very bright in terms of fostering this new relationship between the Territory and China. I’m planning a visit to the region later this year to further progress these initiatives, and I’ll certainly inform the House of any significant developments that occur.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, indeed we saw a very large contingent of Chinese delegates attending NT Expo. In fact, some 40 government and business people came to Expo last month from China. This demonstrates in a real way the commitment that is developing to fostering trade ties between the Northern Territory and China.
Further to that commitment, officers from my Department of Asian Relations and Trade recently visited southern China to progress trade relationships. They have reported some very interesting prospects. These officers met with people running the highly-successful Panyu Xiangjiangafari park in southern China. The directors last week paid a return visit to the Northern Territory, meeting with Darwin-based International Wildlife Management, and they negotiated a consultancy in a number of areas: The breeding, incubation and raising of crocodiles; the processing of crocodile meat and skins; the manufacture and marketing of crocodile products; the extension and enhancement of existing tourism facilities; the provision of crocodile management courses; and advice on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The Northern Territory directors of International Wildlife Management will begin consultancy arrangements later on this month.
The Guangxi provincial government has also requested the assistance of the Northern Territory government in providing information on beef and dairy cattle breeding stock and also on seeds for high-nutrition pasture. Department of Asian Relations and Trade and the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries officers are liaising very closely with local livestock exporters, the dairy industry and other agencies to compile proposals in the Chinese language relating to these particular opportunities.
A visit to NT Expo of a large delegation from Anhui province led to a dialogue with DPIF and livestock exporters on the export of cattle from the Territory. I think at a later stage the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries may have some exciting news. We’re keeping our fingers crossed, but officers and government people are working very hard to progress that.
Needs have also been identified for assistance to Guangxi province in tropical horticulture, including post-harvest handling of tropical fruits, processing of fruits through pitting, peeling and dehydration to increase shelf life and produce high-value-added product, and the design and supply of processing equipment and biotechnology services to improve quality and yield. The provincial government has appointed a private company to source these services and equipment and my department has been working to bring together the expertise and the equipment suppliers to maximise benefits to the Territory.
Furthermore, last month Don Cole, the Trade Commissioner to China, addressed an International Business Council luncheon on trade and business opportunities emerging in the region. He was quite bullish about the prospects for our companies.
As well, much has been said about China’s decision to use liquefied natural gas for future energy requirements. This presents an enormous opportunity for the export of LNG from Australia. The Northern Territory government has been working closely with the Western Australian government and Australian producers to maximise opportunities for Australian-sourced LNG for this market. I think we’re all well aware of the previous work by the member for Port Darwin in this area. Both the Chief Minister and I will be visiting China this year to further that opportunity.
The opposition speaks about cheap electricity. Believe you me, our efforts are concentrated on bringing gas onshore. When that comes we will have cheaper power and we will have more jobs. We will have manufacturing in the petrochemical area and right across the board because our energy will be cheaper. That’s what we’re committing ourselves to. We have been for a number of years and we will continue to do that so that we can ensure that those developments benefit Territorians.
The future is looking very bright in terms of fostering this new relationship between the Territory and China. I’m planning a visit to the region later this year to further progress these initiatives, and I’ll certainly inform the House of any significant developments that occur.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016