NEWS

2014.04.02
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Queensland Business Centre celebrates 1st anniversary with new trade ties


Global Sky Group’s Queensland Business Centre (QBC) has celebrated its first anniversary with new plans aimed at expanding international business linkages in the heart of Tokyo. The occasion was marked with the granting of the inaugural QBC Award for export success to leading Queensland winemaker, Sirromet Wines.

Managing Director Ko Nagata said the membership shared facility based in the commercial district of Kamiyacho had attracted a growing international clientele of both Japanese and overseas businesses from a range of industries, including accounting, legal, mining, education, consulting and real estate, attracted by the opportunities available in Asia’s second-largest economy.

“The QBC was established by Global Sky in 2013 with the goal of serving as a hub for cooperation between Australia and Japan. It has now become cemented at the centre of our group’s growing range of community businesses, spanning business to childcare centres, in addition to environmental engineering and property,” Mr Nagata said.

“In 2014, we plan to build on the QBC’s role in business building with new initiatives in the area of e-commerce, a sector which is enjoying double-digit growth in Japan, in addition to new trade linkages and services.”

Mr Nagata said the centre was working with local e-commerce partners to facilitate business-to-business (B2B) linkages, such as a unique Australia-Japan business matching website being developed for the Queensland Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QJCCI), as well as business-to-consumer (B2C) ties.

The QBC has also further extended its support for members with a range of new networking activities and services, including proxy marketing and market research.

Highlights of the centre’s first year in operation have included its official launch with the support of the Trade and Investment Queensland office in Tokyo, and functions spanning such areas as foreign exchange, wine and other trade promotions. In June 2014, the QBC will welcome a QJCCI delegation on its official business mission to Japan, further extending its cooperation and support for the activities of Australian businesses in the nation’s second-largest export market.

Two-way trade between Queensland and Japan exceeded $16 billion in fiscal 2012 across a broad range of industries, from food and resources to advanced technologies and professional services. A pending free trade agreement (FTA) between Australia and Japan is set to generate a new wave of business opportunities in such areas as services and investment.

“Japan has more than A$60 billion invested in Australia already, so there’s considerable scope for a further flourishing of investment activity between the two nations. Notably, the FTA is expected to generate a A$68 billion windfall to Japanese consumers and A$19 billion to Australians over a 20-year period, giving a big demand boost to two-way commerce,” Mr Nagata said.

Congratulating the QBC on its anniversary, Queensland’s Trade and Investment Commissioner for Japan, Tak Adachi said the centre was playing a key role in broadening commercial ties into new areas, including services and technology tie-ups.

“Queensland places great importance on our longstanding ties with Japan, as shown by last year’s official Japan visit by Queensland Premier Campbell Newman. I am pleased to note the QBC’s initiatives in seeking to strengthen the relationship into new fields of cooperation for mutual benefit,” Mr Adachi said.

“Japan’s revival under ‘Abenomics’ has increased opportunities for overseas businesses in Japan, and with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics approaching, we anticipate further international business interest in the world’s biggest city,” Mr Nagata said.

About Queensland Business Centre

Established in 2013, the Queensland Business Centre (QBC) is a membership shared office in Kamiyacho, Tokyo, Japan for Queenslanders from any type of business or organisation. The centre offers a range of business facilities and back-office services for members, including virtual office capabilities, bilingual secretarial staff, translation and interpreting, IT and telecommunications, private workspaces, business lounge and conference room facilities, along with marketing assistance and networking events.

The QBC icon shows “business expansion,” based on the concept of sun, clear skies and ocean in Queensland. For more information, refer to https://qbconline.com/.

About Global Sky Group

Tokyo-based Global Sky, Ltd is a leading project development, management and investment company, with operations encompassing environmental engineering, property and community projects in Queensland and Japan.

The company is led by Managing Director Ko Nagata, who has 10 years’ experience at senior strategic planning positions in companies ranging from start-ups to Japan’s biggest oil and energy company, JX Nippon Oil and Energy. Mr Nagata has been a registered real-estate transaction specialist in Japan since 2002 and holds a Bachelor of Law and Master’s Degree in Media and Governance from Tokyo-based Keio University.