ASEAN ambassadors in NT to talk trade

Top diplomats from ASEAN nations are in Darwin to talk business as the Northern Territory government pushes the message that it's open for business.

Ambassadors for Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are in the NT for the first time to talk trade agreements, transport links, investment and exports.

Business Minister Peter Styles told the delegates on Monday that Darwin's location in northern Australia was its greatest asset, making it the country's only capital city located in Asia.

"We all know that trade is the thing that lifts everyone's standard of living; you look at the ASEAN countries, they are on the move, they are the tigers of Asia," he said.

He said the NT was looking forward to increasing opportunities for cultural, education and investment exchanges that would benefit all sides.

Thai Ambassador to Australia Chirachai Punkrasin said ASEAN nations already had a strong relationship with the NT, with some member nations among the top five export markets for NT goods.

"The proximity to the region, abundant natural resources, a strong agricultural sector, excellent infrastructure and transport networks that you have here, all these factors make it very attractive for trade and investment," he said.

"On your doorstep you have a market of 600 million people and the opportunity to trade and work together."

Mr Styles denied that the NT's relationship with Vietnam had been damaged following the scandal engulfing his predecessor as deputy chief minister, Willem Westra van Holthe.

In February Mr Westra van Holthe was forced to step down following revelations that he had planned to invest more than $500,000 of his personal money into a project being operated by a Vietnamese company, which he was also dealing with as a minister. The Vietnamese company was trying to secure a $140 million dragon fruit farm in the Top End.

"There are no issues with trade with Vietnam," Mr Styles said.