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Australia’s strong trade and investment relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to be further boosted with the arrival of a high level business delegation this week.
The Australia Gulf Council (AGC), a not-for-profit organization that aims to further strengthen the business relationship between Australia and the Gulf States, arrives in Abu Dhabi tomorrow (Wednesday, December 5). The visit will be focused on building greater trade ties in key sectors, involving 12 business leaders from some of Australia’s top companies. The AGC have also been in Jeddah and Riyadh earlier this week.
Leading the business mission to the UAE will be the Honourable Mark Vaile AO, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia (2005-2007) and former Minister for Trade (1999 – 2006), and the Honourable Anna Bligh, former Queensland Premier (2007 – 2012).
Australian two-way merchandise trade with the UAE in 2011-12 was AUD 5.9 billion, with the major exports being alumina, passenger motor vehicles (AU$199m), Meat (excl beef) (AU$132m), uncoated flat-rolled iron and steel (AU$91m) and Vegetables (AU$87m). Major imports from the UAE to Australia in 2011-12 included Crude petroleum (AU$3,198m) and Liquefied propane and butane (AU$218m).
The AGC works closely with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) and Austrade. Australia’s Ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency Pablo Kang, commended the AGC for its commitment to a region where personal relationships and face-to-face contact are of vital importance in establishing successful business partnerships.
"In the space of about 15 years, the UAE has grown to become Australia’s sixteenth largest trading partner,” Ambassador Kang said.
“We don’t want to stop there, given the enormous potential that exists for further growth between two very complementary economies, and facilitators such as the nearly 100 flights per week between our two countries.”
It is the third time the AGC has been in the region and this week’s visit follows other successful delegations which have been in the Gulf strengthening trade and bilateral relations since 2010.
“Our goal is to continue to develop stronger and sustained linkages across the business and government communities in Australia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” said Jonathan Herps, Chief Executive Officer of the AGC.
“Over the past two years we have worked hard to nurture mutually beneficial relationships between the Gulf States and Australia through our corporate partners and other commercial, government, non-government and diplomatic stakeholders. Our mission is to build on this further with the GCC countries and facilitate increased two-way trade and investment in these key markets.”
Sectors represented on the business mission by chief and senior executives include agriculture, automotive, construction and engineering, education, financial services, food and beverage, telecommunications, transport and tourism.
“Once again it is going to be a packed programme that will include senior-level government to business and business to business engagement,” said Mr. Herps.
“We are all looking forward to building on the successes and opportunities of the previous missions and creating new partnerships that will continue to grow our connections with this region.”
Etihad Airways is the AGC’s Principal Corporate Partner and former delegation leaders have included the Honourable Bob Hawke AC (Prime Minister of Australia 1983-1991) and Peter Costello (Treasurer in the Australian government from 1996 to 2007).
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