Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston will head a mission to Canada, the United States, Japan, and South Korea in the next two weeks to promote Western Australia’s (WA) resources sector.
During the mission, Minister Johnston will meet with government officials and business executives and attend high-profile events.
“It’s the right time for Western Australia to position itself as a world leader in batteries and critical minerals, and this mission will build our relationship with key trading partners,” Minister Johnston said.
The Minister claimed that WA has a proven track record of being a reliable investment partner for companies looking to diversify and de-risk their resource supply chains.
“We offer investors a stable investment environment, robust and transparent regulatory approvals system, access to export markets and low barriers to international trade,” Minister Johnston stated.
He added that the State produces over half of the world’s lithium and is a significant exporter of nickel, cobalt, manganese, and rare earths.
Minister Johnston will participate in a number of roundtable conversations while in Washington. Meetings with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute are part of this effort to highlight prospects in WA that can contribute to global decarbonisation efforts.
According to the State Government, the United States is a high-priority market for lithium and other battery materials needed to service its electric vehicle sector. The US defence industry likewise has a high demand for rare earths.
Meanwhile, while in Canada, Minister Johnston will address the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention, the biggest international trade exposition for the minerals industry, while in Canada. Every year, more than 20,000 participants from all over the world attend the convention.
During the mission’s North East Asian phase, the Minister will enhance the profile of WA’s resources sector and reaffirm the State’s long-standing relationships with Japan and South Korea.
Minister Johnston will meet with prominent North East Asian battery manufacturers, government leaders, trading houses, and steel companies in addition to attending the InterBattery Conference in South Korea and hosting a roundtable on carbon capture and storage in Japan.
During the mission, Minister Johnston will reaffirm WA’s standing as a reliable source of resources and energy, emphasising critical minerals and the State’s strengths in carbon capture and storage and future batteries.
