WA businesses asked to help in Kobe (Hyogo Prefecture) redevelopment

11/11/95

Deputy Premier Hendy Cowan has been presented with the key to Japan's Hyogo Prefecture, while Western Australian businesses have been invited to participate in the redevelopment of its capital city Kobe, struck by a disastrous earthquake in January.

Mr Cowan told Hyogo Governor Toshitami Kaihara, who made the presentation, that it was an honour for Western Australia to be recognised in such a way by its Sister-State.

He said he was confident that WA expertise, particularly in the field of building and construction, could be harnessed in Kobe's reconstruction effort.

The western Japanese port city of more than 3.5 million people was severely damaged in this year's Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, which claimed about 5,500 lives.

Mr Cowan said it had been estimated that more than 200,000 houses had collapsed or been burnt during the quake and its aftermath.  The cost in terms of damage to roads, railways and other essential facilities was in excess of $70 billion.

The Deputy Premier inspected some of the affected areas today and said he was impressed by what had been achieved in the ten months since the earthquake.

"Clearly though, with damage of such magnitude, there remains much to be done in the coming years," Mr Cowan said.

"Having now been informed of the nature of the redevelopment work, there is no doubt that WA industry can play a part."

Mr Cowan said the WA Government had already assisted Hyogo Prefecture by identifying Australian companies capable of providing temporary housing in the wake of the earthquake.

Governor Kaihara had acknowledged this and other assistance provided by WA and said he looked forward to future co-operation between the two States.

Mr Cowan said he wanted to ensure that the Sister-State relationship, forged in 1981, was responsive to changing times and became stronger.

Kobe had been the first port of call for WA iron ore but mutual interests had grown deeper and more diverse over the years.

He said efforts had already begun to consolidate a WA presence in the building and construction field in Hyogo.

The Government had secured display space at the Hyogo Comprehensive Centre for Imported Houses and several WA companies were keen to offer their products.

"WA has built up a solid reputation in the provision of quality, economic, portable and pre-fabricated housing as well as other building supplies," Mr Cowan said.

"The Department of Commerce and Trade and the WA Government Office in Tokyo will work with industry groups in WA and Japan to ensure that opportunities in Hyogo, and elsewhere, are maximised."

The department's chief executive officer, Mr Bruce Sutherland, is accompanying Mr Cowan on the Japanese visit and has been involved in talks with key government officials and businesses.

While in western Japan, the Deputy Premier also visited the large industrial centre of Osaka and had talks with Nippon Keori Kaisha a major Japanese woolen manufacturer which had purchased substantial quantities of WA wool over the years.

Company executives were invited to consider the possibility of downstream processing in WA and were presented with details of the WA Government's wool strategy.

Mr Cowan said the trip to Japan had been valuable in assessing the future of WA's trading relations.

The Deputy Premier returns to Perth on Monday.

Media contact:  Peter Jackson 222 9595 or 222 8788

NB:  Pronunciation of Kobe is Kobb-ay.