Invest and Trade Western Australia (WA) proudly supported Nikkei Asia Forum 2026, held in Perth on 28 April. 

The Nikkei Asia Forum seeks to harness key insights and explore strategies to strengthen economic security partnerships and facilitate collaboration between Australia and Japan. 

The Forum also serves as a prelude to the upcoming 63rd Annual Japan Australia Joint Business Conference, being held in Chiba, Japan, and commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan.

The Forum’s theme, Navigating Unprecedented Challenges: Japan–Australia Partnership for Economic Security & Strategic Investment, provided a timely and insightful platform to further strengthen one of the Indo-Pacific region’s most enduring partnerships.

The Forum explored strengths and opportunities in the Australia-Japan relationship through the lens of:

• energy transition and stable supply;
• critical minerals and supply chain;
• defence cooperation and industrial growth;
• AI, cyber, space and quantum; and
• economic security architecture.

Premier of Western Australia, Hon Roger Cook MLA, opened the forum with an address and participated in a fireside chat emphasising the strength and importance of the WA-Japan relationship and our shared commitment to energy security, trade resilience and driving innovation. 

The Premier also highlighted our shared interests in maritime security and resilient supply chains which create space for practical, capability‑focused collaboration.

Attendees also heard from WA’s Minister for Defence Industries, Hon Paul Papalia MLA, and Federal Minister for Resources, Hon Madeleine King MP, who both elaborated upon the strengths and opportunities between the two regions. 

Invest and Trade WA would like to thank all attendees and organisers for making the event a success and supporting the ongoing partnerships between both WA and Australia with Japan. 

Japan is WA’s second largest trading partner in 2024-25, with 2026 marking the 45th anniversary of the State’s Sister-State relationship with Hyogo.