Melbourne to host Turkish Prime Minister and business delegation

Austrade media release

1 December 2005

Melbourne businesses encouraged to attend unique international networking opportunity

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his first visit to Melbourne, will lead the largest-ever business delegation from Turkey to visit Australia and will attend a business forum being held in Melbourne on Wednesday December 7.

Prime Minister Erdogan will deliver the keynote address to the Turkish-Australian Business Forum in Melbourne which will be attended by more than 130 representatives from leading Turkish companies to meet with Australian businesses and to strengthen trade and investment relations between the two countries.

Austrade is working to match some of Turkey's top tier companies accompanying Prime Minister Erdogan with Australian exporters and investors. During the past year, Austrade has assisted 22 Australian companies and generated $136 million in trade and investment to Turkey.

The forum has been organised by the Turkish Consulate-General in Melbourne, Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, Foreign Relations Economic Relations Board in collaboration with Austrade and the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Austrade Chief Economist, Tim Harcourt, said: “Turkey’s economic growth prospects are robust, with annual growths rates expected to hover around the 5 per cent mark. Turkey’s expanding and modernising economy, with its 72 million residents, positions it as an increasingly important export market for Australian companies.”

Austrade Regional Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, John Finnin, said: “Nearly 300 Australian exporters are doing business with Turkey generating $280 million in sales across a variety of sectors including oil and gas, infrastructure, ICT, and food and beverage with a growing presence in services areas such as education, healthcare and recreation.”

Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner in Istanbul, Damian Fisher, said: “The Turkish companies in the delegation manufacture, import and export a wide range of products and services in agriculture, engineering, medical technology, tourism. The Melbourne business forum offers Australian companies a unique opportunity to promote their expertise in these fields and generate new export opportunities.”

Turkey has had a Customs Union with the European Union since 1996 and in October this year commenced accession negotiations for full membership.

The business forum is being held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 123 Collins Street, Melbourne from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.

More information and registration details available from:

Turkish Consulate General
Commercial Attache's Office
8th Floor, 24 Albert Road, South Melbourne, VIC 3205
Tel: (03) 9682 5448
Fax: (03) 9682 5449
Email: dtmel@bigblue.net.au
Web: www.counsellors.gov.tr

Media Contact

Adam Blight, Austrade
Tel: +61 2 9390 2336