Businesses seeking international expertise to decarbonise could look to Taiwan as a starting point with the nation home to extensive expertise and capabilities, says Michael Carter, Head of CCIWA’s International Trade Services.
The Federal Government’s 2024-25 Budget was headlined by the Future Made in Australia plan, with $22.7 billion pouring into industries to help Australia transition to net zero.
The funding is focused on two key areas: green hydrogen and critical minerals, and aims to attract and enable investment.
The Taiwan High Tech Automation and Decarbonisation for Mining and Energy seminar held by CCIWA and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia.
Carter says Australia has a skills and knowledge gap, making trade and investment relationships with countries who have that expertise, like Taiwan, crucial.
“For Australia to decarbonise, we need to further develop our own manufacturing industry, which requires significant technological expertise,” he says.
“Taiwan is a great trade partner with some of the world’s best expertise and capabilities in decarbonisation technologies that WA businesses can tap into to advance our own industry.”
Taiwan was Australia’s seventh largest two-way goods and services trading partner in 2022-23, with trade worth $41.5b.
Leveraging Taiwan’s expertise
The seminar included a panel discussion from (L-R) Advantech’s Steven Bailey, TECO Group’s Sean Yu, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Australia Douglas Hsu and the Minerals Council of Australia’s David Parker.
CCIWA, in partnership with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia, held a seminar on May 20 for WA businesses to hear from and meet two Taiwanese companies that specialise in decarbonisation and factory automation technologies, TECO Group and Advantech.
Taiwan’s Representative to Australia Douglas Hsu says Future Made in Australia is an opportunity for Taiwan to contribute towards Australia’s net zero goals.
Taiwan is a global leader in high tech automation, particularly in the production of smart machinery and semiconductors, which are integral to various sectors including laptops, smartphones, electric vehicles, and IoT sensors.
“We can definitely contribute to Australia’s manufacturing supply chains, especially as Australia has a lot of critical minerals,” Hsu says.
“[Taiwanese businesses] try to apply a business model called ‘build, operate and localise’, so they build up this manufacturing line with their counterparts here, start to operate and maybe for several years they localise that production line.
“More Taiwanese businesses are wanting to do that here in Australia with the mining industry and my office is assisting with these kinds of inquiries.”
Adarsh utilises Taiwan expertise in manufacturing plant
L-R: Adarsh Australia Director Farahanaz Wasson, Federal Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic, Member for Burt Matt Keogh and Adarsh Australia Director Faz Pollard. Image: Adarsh Australia.
WA-based business Adarsh Australia opened its new recycling manufacturing facility, Adarsh Fibre, this month.
Adarsh Director Faz Pollard worked with businesses from around the world, including Taiwanese businesses which are leaders in their field.
The plant is capable of processing up to 3,000 tonnes of wastepaper and cardboard to manufacture medical products, food and beverage packaging and consumer packaging and products.
“Taiwan is the leader in certain specialised equipment and sensors we required in our processes,” Pollard says.
“We wanted the latest technology and to work with people who could accommodate our requirements, including adapting it to Australian standards.”
Australia a prime investment destination for Taiwan
At the end of 2022, Taiwan’s total stock of investment in Australia was valued at $15b, up 4% from 2021, according to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Hsu says Taiwanese businesses see Australia as an attractive place for investment and there has been a shift from investing in real estate to other industries, particularly energy and minerals.
“We are seeing the Taiwanese manufacturing industry coming to Australia to see what they can do, how they can collaborate with their partners, especially in critical minerals,” he says.
Investors interested in Western Australian opportunities can visit WA Investments, a collaboration between CCIWA and Invest and Trade WA.
If you are looking for support or advice in business, investment or trade, contact our experienced International Trade Services team at [email protected].
