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Australian Embassy, Lisbon
Press Release - 6 November 2006
Trade mission to build links with Australia
A special trade and investment mission from the Australian state of Queensland will commence this week in the Middle East and later in Europe.
The 12 day mission, lead by Queensland Premier, Mr Peter Bettie, will focus on Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) starting Monday, 6 November 6 2006.
Mr Beattie, who is also the State’s trade minister, will be promoting investment, jobs and new partnerships and will have trade talks with senior government and business leaders.
Mr Beattie said that Queensland companies and researchers were among the world’s best and their international reputation was forging new trade links and joint ventures.
In the Middle East, Mr Beattie will meet business and government officials focussing on increasing the visibility of Queensland on-ground. He will also announce the appointments of trade representatives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Following the Middle East visits, the delegations will visit the United Kingdom, Monaco, Italy and Germany. While in London, Mr Beattie will meet members of the Yorkshire Forward Regional Development Agency, which represents 270,000 businesses that contribute over AUS $185 billion to the area's economy.
“I shall be promoting Queensland's expertise in all areas of building, design, and sports and events management, because London will benefit from our expertise as it prepares for the 2012 Olympic Games,” he said.
“And, I shall also be telling Londoners about the jobs for doctors available in Queensland as we ramp up our UK recruitment drive.”
Mr Beattie said that the Middle East and Europe were important and diversifying trade markets for Queensland, and research collaboration would be a major theme in discussions throughout the delegation’s trip.
“Trade is vital for Queensland. Trade is responsible for one in five jobs in the states’ south- east region and one in four across regional Queensland. Trade contributes to Queensland’s lowest unemployment in 30 years at 4.6 per cent,” he said.
In Northern Italy, the delegation will hold a series of meetings, and promote Queensland's case to be involved in Europe's $6 billion high-tech Galileo Project.
In Germany, the Premier will be promoting investment and attending a reception hosted by the Australian Ambassador, Mr Ian Kemish. A meeting is also scheduled in Frankfurt with Mr Kurt Beck, Chairman of the Social Democratic Party and Premier of Rhineland-Palatinate. Mr Beattie will also study first hand the reform of Germany's federal parliamentary system.
Canberra
06 November 2006