Austrade media release
11 June 2010
As the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ gets under way in South Africa, the Australian Government is helping Australians score goals off the pitch, as well as on.
The renowned business networking program, Business Club Australia (BCA), is present in Cape Town during the FIFA World Cup™ as part of the Australian government’s commitment to broaden and deepen Australia’s engagement with Africa.
Led by the Australian government’s trade and investment agency, Austrade, and endorsed by Football Federation Australia (FFA) as ‘Australia’s business program during the tournament’ BCA will host several industry networking events for Australian and South African businesses in the coming weeks.
The BCA venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will also host the first rollout of Australia Unlimited – the country’s new brand to position Australia as a great business partner and global citizen.
Australia’s expertise in all aspects of large-scale event management will be a key talking point with Australian companies and people once again involved in numerous aspects of the staging of a major sporting event, including producing the FIFA World Cup™ opening ceremony, the creation of exciting ‘live precincts’ for the tournament, and arranging transport logistics.
SBS Sport's Editorial Chief, Les Murray AM and former Socceroo and SBS's Chief Football Analyst, Craig Foster are among the supporters of BCA World Cup. Mr Murray said it was a welcome move for the BCA program to embrace ‘the world game’.
“There is no questioning the value of business connections made through events like this,” he said.
“Football is a game that brings people together and that doesn’t stop when the whistle blows. The BCA program recognises that and has a proven track record.”
Since its inception at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the BCA program has hosted close to 300 business networking events involving over 36,000 business people, and has facilitated $1.7 billion in deals for Australian companies.
FFA CEO, Ben Buckley urged Australian business people in South Africa to get involved.
“BCA provides a platform for Australian businesses to build new or strengthen existing relationships with South African companies – and what better backdrop to do it than the world tournament of a truly global game,” said Buckley.
Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner for sub-Saharan Africa Greg Hull, says trade in goods between Australia and Africa is valued at close to $5 billion and has been growing at more than six per cent annually over the last decade.
"Trade in services between Australia and sub-Saharan Africa are also significant and growing, especially in mining and infrastructure and business services." he said.
“Business opportunities in the education, mining and agribusiness sectors are the focus of business networking activities throughout BCA South Africa."
ENDS
Media contact
Rebecca Glenn, Austrade Media Manager: Ph: 0447 204 934 or +27 718 994 833
For further news and information from the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) visit www.austrade.gov.au//mediacentre.
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