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WA forges economic partnership with Tomsk
The Department of Industry and Resources (DoIR) is pursuing exciting collaboration opportunities with the Tomsk Oblast region of Russia that will have a long-term impact on Western Australia's economic development.
Premier Alan Carpenter signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Governor of Tomsk, Victor Kress, during his visit to Russia in May.
The MoU encourages Western Australia and Tomsk to form an economic partnership, and has also opened up a range of possibilities that DoIR will pursue.
The MoU will enable both parties to pursue cooperation in the fields of:
• Mineral and energy research and development
• Industry and development
• Science and technology
• Agriculture
• Food and beverage
• Education
• Tourism
• Cultural exchanges
DoIR’s Manager of the Europe Desk David McCulloch said the relationship is expected to have a significant long-term impact on the State’s economic development.
Mr McCulloch said Tomsk was primarily looking to access the State’s expertise in mining and energy services, to help with extracting its vast and untapped resource potential. On the other hand, WA was seeking closer collaboration in the education and research sectors as well as opening new markets for our State’s mineral and energy service companies.
“WA is keen to pursue education and research with Tomsk given that it has six universities and more than 40 research institutes, despite having a population of just one million,” he said.
“Tomsk, like WA, is quite isolated but has still attracted prestigious international research institutions. About one in five people living in Tomsk are students.
“Both WA and Tomsk are seen as global new frontiers with similar economic and logistic circumstances.”
These similarities between WA and Tomsk formed the foundation for establishing the MoU which began taking shape in September last year when a delegation from Tomsk, led by Governor Kress, came to Perth at Premier Carpenter’s invitation. The deal was sealed last month during Premier Carpenter’s fruitful trade mission to Russia.
During his visit, the Premier spent time promoting WA’s capabilities in energy and minerals as well as science and technology with the support of his accompanying seven member delegation. Members of the delegation included Nobel Laureate Professor Barry Marshall, WA’s Chief Scientist Lyn Beazley and senior representatives from the University of Western Australia, Curtin University of Technology, Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA and Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA.
Mr McCulloch said he was looking forward to taking the Tomsk relationship to the next level, and has enjoyed being part of the pioneering stage of the MoU.
“It’s very satisfying to have been involved in the whole process including the initial market research on Tomsk, the cultivation of a relationship and the development of the blueprint for moving forward,” he said.
“The visit has already prompted significant initiatives with Tomsk’s Vice Governor Vladimir Emesher who has ministerial responsibility for Tomsk’s resources sector. The Vice Governor is now set to visit WA in August.
“He will be meeting with the Premier and broadening his knowledge of WA’s credentials in the resources area.
“DoIR’s Acting Director General Stuart Smith will also be meeting with Allanah Lucas, his counterpart at the Department of Culture and the Arts, to progress cultural connections that were raised by the Premier.”
