And timber industry sources yesterday confirmed that the subject of discussion at meetings between Mr Llewellyn, Japanese business interests and Gunn's executive chairman John Gay would be woodchips.

Tasmanian Wilderness Society spokesman Paul Oosting said that if Mr Llewellyn helped to build a modern, sustainable timber industry in the state, he would not need to use taxpayers' money to travel around the world to defend the outdated, unwanted, existing industry model.

Gunns refused to comment on why Mr Gay would accompany Mr Llewellyn and Forestry Tasmania manager Bob Gordon to meetings with Japanese companies to discuss the state's forestry products.

A spokesman for the company refused to confirm whether the meetings would be to do with finance for the $2.5 billion Tamar Valley pulp mill or to try to entice Japanese buyers to source their woodchips from Tasmania again.

Industry sources say that Mr Gay would be trying to regain markets for his company's woodchips.

Mr Llewellyn's office announced after he had left for Japan earlier this week that he would also meet an international company regarding further vegetable processing in Tasmania.

A spokeswoman for Mr Llewellyn said yesterday that there would be no further information on the reasons for that part of the visit either until the Primary Industries Minister was back in Tasmania.

But Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers chief executive Chris Oldfield said that his association welcomed moves by anyone to find alternative investment in the state's troubled vegetable processing industry.

Giant processing company McCain announced late last year that it would close its Smithton plant and move its operations to New Zealand.

"We have the best soils in the world here and the best vegetable farmers in the world, so we would welcome anything in terms of new markets for farmers," Mr Oldfield said.