Net worth has increased despite the sale of Suncorp Metway. And Queensland is now gearing up for the next phase of the information age, with a new emphasis on knowledge-based industries. In this sector, information technology will be an important interface between Queensland and Japan. This does not mean we are forsaking our traditional markets such as coal or primary industries it means we are expanding our horizons, looking for new opportunities, and value-adding. Because Japan and Queensland have requirements and expertise which dovetail so neatly, a lot can be deduced about the Queensland economy from examining our expanding commercial activities with Japan.
New figures show Japanese are the dominant foreign land-owners in Queensland.
Our association with Japan has helped to make tourism one of our most important markets, worth about eight billion dollars a year. After the United States, Queensland is the largest supplier of beef to Japan. But there s another tier of exports, a raft of solid income earners which when tallied up are just as significant metals, textiles and seafood, for example. On top of that, in recent years Queensland has established new export markets in areas such as education, health and aged care, construction and manufacturing. With sustained enthusiasm and a high-standard of servicing, these markets will continue to expand and generate other, related opportunities as our economies develop.