ASFI Calls for Coordinated Green Exports Strategy Following Green Iron Workshop

ASFI is reinforcing calls for a coordinated Green Exports Strategy after participating in the World Economic Forum and Greenhouse-hosted Green Iron Workshop in Adelaide last week.

ASFI’s Purdie Bowden chaired panel discussions on unlocking investment for early-stage clean industrial projects, with a focus on the role of blended finance approaches in enabling green iron developments.

The event convened leaders from across the Asia-Pacific to explore how the region can position itself as a first mover in clean industrial exports.

ASFI highlighted two strategic priorities for a national Green Exports Strategy:

• Engaging North East Asia through diplomatic channels to generate demand signals and co-invest in green industries.

• Tailoring development assistance for Southeast Asia to support decarbonisation and build future markets for Australian clean exports.

“As our fossil fuel exports decline, we can replace them with green energy, utilising our comparative advantages in renewables and minerals,” said Bowden.

“There are risks to building big projects, but the bigger risk is that Australia misses this opportunity to be the provider of green energy to the world.

“We’re not alone in this race and the opportunity is ours to lose.” 

The workshop aligns with ASFI’s and Kaya Partners’ recent report ‘Maximising Australia’s green growth: Leveraging trade and aid policy to drive Australia’s green exports agenda.’

The report sets out how Australia can work with our trade partners to jointly transition our heavy industries into a net zero world. In order to realise its potential, Australia needs to do more to develop export markets for our future green industries, including the need to work closely with existing trade partners including China and Japan.