A little more info about this from the Latrobe City Council Meeting Minutes: Executive Summary: A group of officials from the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation(JOGMEC) visited Latrobe City on 30 October 2018 and met with the then Mayor,Cr White, Crs. Middlemiss, McFarlane and Gibson, CEO Gary Van Driel and Council Officers. In the meeting, the Executive Vice President of JOGMEC, MrHajime Ikeda, invited Latrobe City Council to participate in an investment forum that they are organising in Tokyo, to be held on 10 May 2019. The forum will bring together 130-150 Japanese companies to discuss investment opportunities globally.
The Victorian State Government (Coal Resources Victoria) will be participating and Latrobe City Council has been invited to present the benefits of investing in the Latrobe Valley. Being the only Victorian municipality invited to participate, Latrobe City has a unique opportunity to showcase the region in a targeted manner to investment companies and businesses. It is expected that through this participation, inward investment will be discussed and contacts established for further discussions.
Given the forum is being held in Tokyo, the Council delegation will be able to meet with Senior Officials from the Hydrogen Project proponents, KHI and JPower.JPower have also offered to arrange a visit to the High Efficiency Low Emissions power station in Yokohama. It would also be appropriate for the delegation to visit Latrobe City’s Sister City, Takasago, before departing for Australia.
The indicative budget for this one week delegation is $4,300 per person. The total budget for four people would be $17,200.
Background: The Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) was established in2004 by the Japanese Government. Its Mission is ‘to secure stable supply of natural resources and energy for Japan, such as oil, gas, mineral resources and coal. It has a sovereign wealth fund of 921 billion Yen (A$11.7 billion) for investment in projects around the world.
Representatives from JOGMEG visited Victoria in October 2018 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Victorian State Government and discuss project opportunities. The purpose of the MOU is to further enhance closer trade,investment and research collaboration between the two countries that are of mutual benefit.
JOGMEG representatives visited Latrobe City on 30 October 2018 and met with the then Mayor, Cr White, Crs. Middlemiss, McFarlane and Gibson, CEO Gary Van Drieland Council Officers. The JOGMEG representatives were: Mr Hajime Ikeda, Executive Vice President of JOGMEC Mr Takashi Fukuzaki, Deputy Director General, Coal Development Department of JOGMEC Mr Kimihiko Nakamura, Senior Coordinator, Coal Development Department of JOGMEC Jane Burton, Director, Coal Resources Victoria, coordinated the meeting.
During the visit, the head of the delegation, Mr Ikeda provided an overview ofJOGMEG and its role. He advised that they were in Victoria to look at potential investment opportunities, particularly Japanese companies investing in Victorian natural resource and energy projects.
At the conclusion of the meeting Mr Ikeda invited Latrobe City Council to participate in an investment forum that they are organising in Tokyo, to be held on 10 May 2019.
The forum will bring together 130-150 Japanese companies to discuss investment opportunities globally.
The Victorian State Government (Coal Resources Victoria) will be participating and Latrobe City Council has been invited to present the benefits of investing in the Latrobe Valley and be available to meet with companies that express an interest. The Forum is a one day event and it is suggested that Council representatives be available for follow-up meetings the following day.
This forum provides Latrobe City with an opportunity to promote inward investment to Japanese companies who could utilise brown coal to produce products, with financial support from JOGMEG. Latrobe City is the only municipality in Victoria being invited to participate.
Being the only Victorian municipality invited to participate, Latrobe City has a unique opportunity to showcase the region in a targeted manner to investment companies and businesses. It is expected that through this participation, inward investment will be discussed and contacts established for further discussions.
Given the forum is being held in Tokyo, the Council delegation will be able to meet with Senior Officials from the Hydrogen Project proponents, KHI and JPower. JPowe rhave also offered to arrange a visit to the High Efficiency Low Emissions power station in Yokohama.
Given the close proximity to Tokyo, it would also be appropriate for the delegation to visit Latrobe City’s Sister City, Takasago, before departing for Australia.
It is suggested that the Mayor, Chief Executive Officer, Manager, Economic Development and International Engagement and Investment Officer represent Latrobe City Council at this Forum and subsequent activities.
(20min delay)