Orica has reinforced the growing importance of collaboration between Australia and Latin America, with Group Executive and President Australia Pacific and Sustainability, Germán Morales, delivering a keynote address at the Australia─Latin America Business Council’s (ALABC) Latitudes of Opportunity Forum in Melbourne this week.

Orica operates extensively across both regions, supporting customers in critical industries including mining and infrastructure.

The one-day forum brought together senior leaders from industry and government to explore opportunities to strengthen trade, investment and partnerships between the two regions. Attendees included representatives from Austrade, the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Immigration), and other senior stakeholders.

In his keynote, Mr Morales highlighted the significant opportunity to deepen economic engagement between Australia and Latin America, noting that while the regions share many complementary strengths, their economic relationship remains underdeveloped.

“Trade between our regions still accounts for less than one per cent of Australia’s total exports, and investment flows remain well below their potential,” he said. “To me, those figures don’t represent a limitation. They represent an opportunity.”

Drawing on Orica’s experience across both regions, Mr Morales highlighted the importance of trust, collaboration and shared purpose in a changing global environment.

“In a more fragmented and uncertain world, trusted corridors like the one between Australia and Latin America become more important — not less.” 

He also emphasised the shared role both regions play in supporting global supply chains and the energy transition, as well as the importance of enabling environments that support trade, investment and long-term partnerships.

Throughout the address, Mr Morales pointed to the role of collaboration across trade, technology and talent, alongside the importance of sustainability, workforce capability and strong partnerships in delivering long-term value.

Mr Morales concluded by reinforcing the shared opportunity and responsibility between the regions.

“Under the same Southern Cross, we have a shared opportunity — and a shared responsibility..”

Bajo la misma Cruz del Sur, tenemos una oportunidad y una responsabilidad compartida.

Read Germán Morales’s full keynote speech here.