Latest from Austrade

Commonwealth Business Forum focuses on Indian Ocean Rim partnerships

20 Sep 2013

The upcoming Commonwealth Business Forum 2013, held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), will focus on potential partnerships in the fast-growing Indian Ocean Rim.

It will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 12-14 November 2013, the eve of CHOGM.

The Forum, supported by the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), will highlight new global economic partnerships for trade and investment in key sectors across the Commonwealth and beyond.

Key sectors are agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, education, IT, renewable energy and infrastructure. Based on the previous forum in Perth, the event is expected to result in more than A$10 billion worth of deals.

The theme is Partnering for Wealth Creation and Social Development: The Commonwealth, Indian Ocean, Pacific and SAARC, which refers to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

“The Commonwealth Business Forum is a must-attend event for businesses looking to access the enormous potential of the emerging markets and/or expand operations there,” Peter Callaghan, Director General of the Commonwealth Business Council, said.

The Commonwealth Business Forum will feature more than 100 speakers and panellists, including heads of government, trade and finance ministers, and corporate chairmen and chief executives.

Government and business leaders from Asia, Africa, Europe and further afield are expected to participate, making the Forum invaluable for discovering potential investment partners and new business opportunities. For further details, please contact Michael Anderson at CBC Global.