Based in the commercial district of Kamiyacho, near Trade and Investment Queensland’s Tokyo office, the Queensland Business Centre has been designed to offer a “home away from home service” for Australian resource and energy companies.

Property development group Global Sky Group managing director Ko Nagata said the QBC resulted from a lifelong passion for Queensland and Australia, with the aim of helping Australian businesses gain a foothold in the world’s third-biggest economy.

“Japanese trading houses and other companies have long been established investors in Australia’s resource and energy industry and the centre’s location in the heart of Tokyo provides easy access to Japan’s blue chip companies and financial institutions as well as government.”

A visitor to the QBC could utilise its bilingual secretarial staff, translation and interpreting services, IT and telecommunications, private work spaces, business lounge and conference room facilities.

Virtual office capabilities are also available, as is marketing assistance for members, especially those who are new to the Japanese market, who may need a helping hand with market research or some support at conferences and industry events.

Two-way trade between Australia and Japan exceeded $71 billion in the 2012 financial year across

a broad range of industries, from food and resources to advanced technologies and professional services, with a current free trade agreement under negotiation set to further boost long-standing ties.

Outbound mergers and acquisitions investment hit a record high of $US110 billion in 2012, including investment in Queensland’s emerging LNG industry and Australia’s broader mining industry.

“Japan is on the up – and Australian miners need to seize the opportunities in this technologically advanced and culturally vibrant country,” Nagata said.