- Premier
In a major win for Victoria, the leading global organisation dedicated to forging closer ties with Asia through business, culture and education has set up its regional headquarters in Melbourne, as the Andrews Labor Government continues its efforts to boost trade in our region and create more jobs in our state.
Premier Daniel Andrews will tonight join business leaders, philanthropists, and consular officials from across Asia to officially launch the Asia Society Australia Centre, which will be their largest facility in the southern hemisphere.
The Centre will act as a hub for business, diplomatic, cultural and civic engagement on Australia-Asia relations and will play host to leading international figures, learning programs, policy insights and help connect with Victoria’s diverse communities.
And in a major coup for Victoria, the Centre will also be a regional home – the first outside the United States – for the Asia Society Policy Institute and the Asia Society for Global Education.
Hosting the first Asia Society Policy Institute outside the United States, will put Victoria at the forefront of tackling the major policy challenges confronting the Asia-Pacific in security, prosperity and sustainability.
This partnership builds upon the work of Andrews Labor Government to strengthen and expand our trade, engagement and connections to our neighbours across Asia to help create jobs and prosperity.
Seven of our state’s top ten trading partners are in Asia, with two-way trade with China valued at $28 billion alone, and exports to countries such as Japan, Thailand and Malaysia increasing rapidly in recent years – we want to grow this trade and the Centre will help forge new partnerships, opportunities and relationships in the region.
Melbourne is also ranked as Australia’s top student destination – and third in the world – and having the Asia Society based here further cements our city as the proud and vibrant multicultural global city that it is, as we look to boost the hundreds of thousands of students who come from across Asia to study in Victoria.
Founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd, the Asia Society is a non-partisan, non-profit institution with centres in New York, Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Manila, Mumbai, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo, Washington DC, Zurich, Sydney and now Melbourne.
As noted by Premier Daniel Andrews
“We said that we’d take our relationship with our biggest trading partners across Asia to the next level and that is exactly what we’ve done – this is about boosting exports, creating jobs and ensuring prosperity for Victorians.”
“The expansion of the Asia Society into Melbourne will strengthen and deepen our ties with Asia and help showcase Melbourne as Australia’s business and cultural gateway to the region.”
As noted by Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade Martin Pakula
“We’re strengthening ties with Asia to drive more trade, boost investment and create jobs.”
“Having the Asia Society based in Melbourne will put Victoria in the best possible position to capitalise on our engagement with our major trading partners.”
Quote attributable CEO of Asia Society Australia Philipp Ivanov
“Today’s launch represents a powerful commitment by Victoria to be at the forefront of the next era of Asia-Australia engagement, and a commitment of Asia Society to build its major presence in Australia’s global city.”
