- Minister for Mines and Petroleum leading mission to Canada, the United States, Japan and South Korea
- Mission to promote investment in WA's globally-recognised battery, critical minerals and energy sectors
- New opportunities emerging with some of WA's most important trading partners
Western Australia's globally-recognised battery, critical minerals and energy sectors will be promoted across four countries in the next two weeks as Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston leads a mission to Canada, the United States, Japan and South Korea.
During the mission, Minister Johnston will meet government officials and business leaders and take part in high-profile events.
While in Washington, Minister Johnston will attend a number of roundtable discussions. This includes meeting with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute to promote opportunities in WA that can contribute to global decarbonisation efforts.
The United States is a high-priority market with lithium and other battery minerals required to service its electric vehicle industry. There is also considerable demand for rare earths from the US defence industry.
While in Canada, Minister Johnston will speak at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention, the premier international trade exhibition for the minerals industry. The convention attracts more than 20,000 delegates from around the world each year.
During the North East Asian leg of the mission, the Minister will further raise the profile of WA's resources sector and reaffirm the State's long-standing relationship with Japan and South Korea.
Minister Johnston will attend the InterBattery Conference in South Korea, host a roundtable on carbon capture and storage in Japan and meet with high profile North East Asian battery manufacturers, government representatives, trading houses and steel companies.
During the mission, Minister Johnston will reinforce WA's reputation as a stable supplier of resources and energy, with a particular focus on critical minerals, and its capabilities in future batteries and carbon capture and storage.
As stated by Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston:
"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 relationships with key trading partners.
"WA has a strong track-record as a trusted investment partner for those seeking to diversify and de-risk their resources 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.
"WA is a major supplier of critical minerals. The State accounts for around half of global lithium production and is a major exporter of nickel, cobalt, manganese and rare earths."
