Premier Peter Malinauskas made the announcement in Berlin, as part of a trade mission with a specific focus on South Australia’s world-leading plans for green hydrogen.
The office will be established Frankfurt, making South Australia the fourth state with a presence in Germany, joining New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
Germany is South Australia’s 8th largest trading partner, with two-way trade worth $622 million. There are currently 67 German companies with a physical presence in South Australia – only the US and UK have more.
Importantly, Germany is facing an energy crisis arising out Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and is aggressively pursuing the development of green Hydrogen energy as an alternative energy source.
Germany is the biggest player in Europe when it comes to green hydrogen, with strong potential for investment related to South Australia’s Hydrogen Jobs Plan.
The budgeted annual cost is $250,000. The German office will join other South Australian trade offices in the UK, US, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.
The State Government will now begin recruitment for the office, with the aim of commencing as soon as possible.
Quotes
Attributable to Peter Malinauskas
Germany is the biggest economy in Europe, with a GDP worth more than $4 trillion, so it makes sense for South Australia to have a permanent presence here.
With the world re-opening post-COVID, it is vital that South Australia has a strong presence in key economies across the world.
South Australia’s trade office in London has helped promote significant investment in our state – and this new office will help forge stronger ties across continental Europe.
Attributable to Nick Champion
With the advent of Brexit, it is important for South Australia to have a presence within the European Union, as well as the United Kingdom.
Australia’s biggest states have a presence in Germany and it is important South Australia is competing in the same space to give our state the best possible chance to secure investment.
