Rakuten Forms Strategic Partnership with South Australia
Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten will provide businesses in South Australia with access to more than 100 million Japanese users.
Rakuten and South Australia signed a partnership at the World Expo held in Osaka. According to the agreement, more than 400 food and beverage products originating from South Australia will be featured on the online platform. During the World Expo, Rakuten will run a “Taste South Australia” campaign until October.
“We Are Strengthening the Reputation of South Australian Products in Japan”
South Australia’s Minister for Trade and Investment Joe Szakacs, who is in Osaka for the World Expo, made a statement regarding the agreement: “This partnership acts as a bridge for South Australian companies that want to sell their products in Japan through Rakuten. By leveraging platforms like Rakuten, we are not only increasing the sales of South Australian products but also strengthening the overall reputation of South Australia’s products in Japan. This latest campaign is strategically timed to attract the interest of millions of people and to make the most of the World Expo, which will continue until October this year.”
Rakuten Holds a Quarter of Japanese E-Commerce
The South Australian government had previously run campaigns with Rakuten in 2023 and 2024. These campaigns generated approximately $600,000 and $700,000 in revenue, respectively. Following these campaigns, the government stated that the number of sellers offering Southern Bluefin Tuna on Rakuten increased sixfold. In addition, the state government also offers an online showcase called “Buy What You Try,” which enables World Expo participants to purchase the products they experience at the event.
Rakuten hosts more than a quarter of Japanese e-commerce. The company has more than 1.4 billion members worldwide.