Mitsui & Co. is a long-term investor in Australia and has played a pivotal role in promoting the development and expansion of Australia’s key export commodities.
Mitsui was the first Japanese company to invest in Australian coal mines in the 1960s. Mitsui initially partnered with Thiess to develop and invest in the Moura coal mine in Central Queensland, just six years after the signing of the 1957 Australia-Japan Commerce Agreement.
Five decades on, the project operates under the name Dawson and Mitsui is still involved, priding itself on being a loyal founding partner and a patient long-term investor.
After Moura, Mitsui replicated its investment model in other sectors and today manages a diverse Australian portfolio of export projects in industries such as iron ore, LNG, infrastructure, grain, chemicals, steel and financial services.
Mitsui has made a significant contribution to the growth of Australia's resource and energy industries through substantial capital investment, opening new export markets and job creation – major drivers of Australia’s economic growth. Over the past ten years the group has invested over A$15 billion in Australia.
Mitsui has played a pivotal role in the development and expansion of Australia’s key export commodities and is estimated to be Australia’s fourth largest exporter – with around A$6.5 billion in total annual exports.
Mitsui has actively worked with Australian companies to develop new export markets in emerging Asian countries, helping Australia’s economic shift towards Asia.
The Mitsui group directly employs about 400 in Australia, while the Australia-based joint ventures in which Mitsui participates employ more than 20,000 people. Of the 65 countries in which Mitsui operates, Australia is the group’s largest investment destination.
The company is also a strong supporter of regional communities and education scholarships, with over 40 years of sponsoring Australian students to study in Japan and, more recently, participation in the New Colombo Plan.