Austrade media release
25 February 2010
Against the backdrop of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, more than 40 Australian businesses will attend a key networking event today, aimed at enhancing the trade and investment opportunities in Canada.
Conducted by the Australian Trade Commission’s (Austrade) Business Club Australia (BCA), in partnership with the British Columbia 2010 Commerce Centre, the participating Australian businesses will network with more than 60 Canadian businesses across a range of industries.
Also attending will be 15 International delegates from future Olympic events including decision makers from the London 2012 Organising Committee, the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Organising Committee and Rio 2016 Organising Committee.
Grame Barty, Austrade Regional Director for the Americas, said the BCA Vancouver program is highlighting Australian capabilities and attracting the attention of captains of industry and government officials.
“With the world’s attention focused on the Vancouver Olympics, Business Club Australia provides a unique opportunity to highlight Australia’s business strengths, as well its merits as an investment destination,” Mr Barty said.
“Austrade representatives from our Russia and Brazil offices, have also worked with the Canadian team, liaising with national delegations to Vancouver, to enhance business matching opportunities ahead of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.
“Discussions have been conducted with foreign officials including the Governor of the Krasnodar region in Russia – host region of the 2014 Sochi Winter Games – Alexander Tkachev: he was interested in learning how to maximise the business benefits from holding the Games and is one of the reasons why he is attending the networking event,” Mr Barty said.
Ahead of the Vancouver Olympics, Austrade and the British Columbia 2010 Commerce Centre Games Secretariat signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which enabled the parties to collaborate on business networking events which are beneficial to both countries trade and investment objectives.
Iain Black, British Columbia’s Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development who is co-hosting the event noted the value of implementing a business networking program.
“When British Columbia looked at maximising the economic opportunities made possible from hosting the 2010 Olympics, we immediately turned to Sydney and Australia,” said Mr Black.
“In fact, B.C.’s own 2010 Commerce Centre and business hosting activities are based on Austrade’s Business Club Australia program.
“British Columbia owes a debt of gratitude to our Australian friends and we are delighted to partner with Austrade on our joint 2010 Vancouver business matching program,” Mr Black said.
Stefan Trofimovs, Austrade’s Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner for Canada, said the preparation for the event has fostered a closer working relationship with the Government of British Columbia, raising awareness of Australian capabilities, and has created increased business opportunities, especially in Vancouver.
“This relationship demonstrates the natural cross-Pacific relationship between Canada as a Pacific gateway and Australia as a platform for Canadian business to enter Asia,” Mr Trofimovs said.
“Sixteen Australian businesses have secured Games-related contracts with the Vancouver Organising Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), some with the assistance of Austrade,” Mr Trofimovs said.
The BCA Vancouver 2010 program is sponsored by Macquarie, Rio Tinto Alcan, Worley Parsons and Pooles Rock Wines.
ENDS
Media contact
Sarkis Khoury, Senior Media Adviser, 0414 401 072 or +1 778 918 317
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