On December 6, AustCham Korea had the honour of attending a luncheon celebrating the 23rd anniversary of Queensland’s State Government Office in Seoul.

The event featured a keynote address by Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, Ros Bates MP RN, who highlighted the trade mission’s efforts to strengthen Queensland’s trade and investment ties with Korean stakeholders across key sectors such as energy, resources, infrastructure, education, tourism, and agribusiness.

Korea is Queensland’s 4th largest export market, with $14.6 billion in exports (coal, beef, LNG) over the past year. Agribusiness exports, including honey, macadamia nuts, and beverages, are flourishing, with Queensland supplying 68% of Australia’s beef imports to Korea.

In education, 3,874 Korean students were enrolled in Queensland’s tertiary institutions as of August 2024, contributing to the $6.7 billion generated by international education for Queensland’s economy in 2023. This year also saw the first Queensland Alumni event in Korea.

Tourism has grown significantly, with 102,000 Korean visitors to Queensland in the year ending June 2024, supported by enhanced connectivity through direct flights by Korean Air and Jetstar to Brisbane.

Through initiatives like the Taste of Queensland Program, which promotes high-quality food and agribusiness products, Queensland continues to build meaningful ties. In 2024, seven South Korean buyers visited Queensland to explore premium products and safety standards.

AustCham Korea is excited to deepen its partnership with Trade and Investment Queensland in 2025 and beyond, fostering further collaboration and mutual growth.