Opening Ceremony of JBIC’s Representative Office in Sydney

On November 7, 2022, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) held a ceremony for the official opening of the Representative Office in Sydney. Following a soft opening in March 2022^*1, this event was held to introduce the new office to a wider circle of Japanese and Australian stakeholders.

JBIC’s Representative Office in Sydney promotes economic growth and sustainable investment in infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region, covering Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island countries. Approximately 130 people gathered to attend the ceremony, including representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia and Export Finance Australia (EFA), which are parties to the US-Japan-Australia Trilateral Infrastructure Partnership^*2. Also present were representatives of the New South Wales Government, Japanese and Australian government agencies, private-sector companies, and international financial institutions.

In his opening remarks, citing the Japan-Australia Leaders’ Summit held on October 22, 2022, JBIC Chairman MAEDA Tadashi noted that the Special Strategic Partnership between Japan and Australia had elevated to a new level that extends beyond bilateral economic security to cooperation between Australia and Japan in promoting clean energy in the Indo-Pacific region. He also mentioned the history of JBIC's deep involvement, together with Japanese companies, in the development of Australia's natural resources and their export to Japan, which is the foundation of today's strong and trust-based partnership between the two countries. In light of recent geopolitical changes, JBIC Chairman MAEDA also emphasized the importance of further cooperation between governments and government agencies under the Trilateral Infrastructure Partnership and the Quad (Japan, the U.S., Australia, and India) for the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” and the potential for collaboration between Japan and Australia in such fields as critical minerals, hydrogen, and ammonia, all of which are increasingly valued in terms of decarbonization and energy security. JBIC Chairman MAEDA asserted that JBIC would further expand and deepen the relationship between Japan and Australia through the Representative Office in Sydney.

MAEDA Tadashi, Managing Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of JBIC

JBIC Chairman MAEDA’s speech was followed by celebratory messages for the opening of the Representative Office in Sydney from His Excellency Mr. YAMAGAMI Shingo, Ambassador of Japan to Australia, Mr. Marco Salvio, Assistant Secretary, North East Asia Branch of DFAT, and the Hon. Damien Tudehope, MLC, NSW Minister for Finance and Employee Relations. They expressed their high hopes for JBIC’s enhanced activities through the Representative Office in Sydney in a variety of areas, including hydrogen, critical minerals, and supply chain resilience, and for strengthening bilateral collaboration between Japan and Australia and trilateral collaboration between Japan, the U.S., and Australia.

Opening ceremony

Through the new Representative Office in Sydney, JBIC will work alongside Japanese and Australian government agencies such as DFAT and EFA, as well as private-sector companies and international financial institutions, to provide further support for projects in Australia and the Indo-Pacific region.