Huge market for WA-made gifts in Japan

11/5/93

A huge market for gifts made in Western Australia has been identified in Japan.

"Local companies have been working with the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) to promote our products in Japan," Deputy Premier Hendy Cowan said today.

"Samples of a wide range of WA giftware products are now on their way to Japan for exhibition, and the potential for sales is enormous," Mr Cowan said.

"A big number of Western Australian firms will have their products shown to Japanese importers as a result of efforts by JETRO and our Department of Commerce and Trade.

"The scale of the Japanese giftware market is huge.  Personal gifts given, for instance, for the birth of a child, a wedding, a promotion or a birthday, total $16,000 million a year.

"Seasonal gifts given at mid-year, end-year or New Year, and gifts to seniors and parents come to $26,000 million annually.

"Social gifts given by visitors or as souvenirs of trips reach $6,000 million and company and incentive gifts total $16,000 million."

Mr Cowan said a JETRO representative, Mr Kouhei Matsunobu, spent a week in WA recently and was introduced to 21 WA enterprises by the Department of Commerce and Trade.

"JETRO has now taken back to Japan samples including Aboriginal-pattern wall plaques from Creative Native; dinner settings from Australian Fine China; boxed flower arrangements from Juxtapose Enterprises; nuts, leaves and flowers plated in copper, silver and gold from Flora Metallica; and wooden pen-sets crafted in jarrah, sheoak and karri from Kevin Brown.

"JETRO will now display these products at the New Imports Showcase exhibition in Tokyo later this year.

"The department is also assisting with the visit of another JETRO representative, Mr Minoru Shimozato, who will be visiting 31 WA companies in the healthcare products and services area.

"The project has close links with the Department of Commerce and Trade's financial support to aspiring exporters through its Japan Export Market Support Scheme.

"The scheme enables companies developing an export market in Japan to recoup part of the economy airfare costs, including $50 per day accommodation allowance.

"This scheme will continue to help local firms like these to penetrate the Japanese market, with big benefits to our local economy.

"Companies that want to have access to the extensive support programs now available should contact the Department of Commerce and Trade."

JETRO may also be able to provide free temporary office facilities, a help desk, business library and meeting rooms for a limited period to visiting companies at its Business Support Centre in Tokyo.

Media contact: Arthur Hanlon 327 5950