Japan finance minister calls for investment from Australia
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama is courting Australian financial firms and investors, presenting Japan-Australia ties as a regional stabilizing force as reforms, resource links and geopolitical uncertainty reshape capital flows.
Japan is seeking greater investment from Australia, including participation by financial services firms, as geopolitical tensions and regional fragmentation increase. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama made the appeal in a video address to the Nikkei Asia Forum Sydney on Aug. 26, 2026. She described Australia as an “indispensable” source of energy and minerals and called the relationship between the two countries a “stabilizing power in the region.” Katayama urged more Australian investors to use Japanese reforms designed to make it easier for overseas firms to operate in the country. She said the efforts had helped more than 50 overseas financial institutions, including from Australia, enter Japan during the past five years. “As we deepen cooperation in the real economy, the role of finance in supporting investment and capital flows becomes ever more important,” Katayama said. She linked continued reform with sustainable growth and long-term value creation, and expressed hope that stronger economic and financial cooperation would contribute to shared prosperity. For investors, the appeal points to potential opportunities in Japanese financial services, cross-border capital allocation and sectors connected with energy and minerals. It also indicates that Japan views Australian capital as strategically important as supply chains and international relationships become more vulnerable to disruption. The forum was the fourth Nikkei Forum held in Australia. It focused on the future of Australia-Japan relations in a rapidly changing and increasingly volatile world shaped by U.S. President Donald Trump’s norm-breaking presidency and China’s continued rise. Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said stronger ties with Japan and South Korea could help relieve vulnerability to China, reinforcing the strategic context surrounding Katayama’s investment appeal. Japan’s reforms may improve access for overseas financial institutions, but investment flows will still depend on commercial opportunities and manageable risks.