Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
WA premier heads to Japan to promote renewable energy
Premier Roger Cook says Western Australia has a huge trade opportunity as Southeast Asian nations work to decarbonise their economies.
October 30, 2023
Western Australia could be on the cusp of a renewable energy boom built on Southeast Asian nations hungry to decarbonise their economies.
Premier Roger Cook says the region wants to invest in WA projects that use the state’s abundant wind and solar energy.
He has flown to Japan for three days of talks to promote the state and expand trade relationships built on the iron ore and liquid natural gas industries.
“They know that we’re trusted partners and can stand up a global leading industry, such as we did with iron ore and LNG,” Mr Cook told reporters at Narita International Airport near Tokyo on Monday.
“They’re looking for opportunities to invest in Western Australia, to make sure that they seek to secure their energy needs into the future.
“Western Australia is on the cusp of a huge opportunity.”
Mr Cook and Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti will also be spruiking WA as a post-COVID pandemic tourism destination for Japanese consumers after All Nippon Airways resumed flights between Tokyo and Perth.
“They want great open air. They want wonderful environments. They want culinary experiences, unique indigenous cultural experiences (and) Western Australia has everything that the Japanese tourists looking for,” he said.
“So we think there’s a huge opportunity here.”