Austrade media release
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
With ICT spending in the Asia-Pacific expected to grow annually at 10.5 per cent until 2011 to over US$1,300 billion*, Austrade is urging Australian ICT firms to include Asia in their international business strategy and promoting opportunities in the region.
Austrade’s National Industry Manager for ICT, Peter Harrison said Australian businesses, particularly start ups, should look beyond the US and UK and take advantage of the booming opportunities close to home.
“There’s been a significant growth in Australian exports of ICT goods and services to Asia, particularly the ASEAN and China over the past three years. In 2006-07, Australia’s ICT exports to ASEAN countries increased to A$415 million, nearly 15 per cent from the previous year; and exports of Australian (ICT) goods and services to China were worth A$183 million.”
Mr Harrison said recent trends in global ICT spending indicate that the emerging economies in the Asia-Pacific were investing in technology to prepare for long-term growth.
“According to the recent study by the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA), in 2007 countries in the Asia-Pacific spent over US$877 billion on ICT. This year, China surpassed Germany and the UK to become the third biggest spending country at US$327 billion. This has created a huge demand for Australian innovation,” he said.
Austrade will help Australian ICT firms harness these growing opportunities by representation at major industry events in Singapore and China.
This week, Austrade will assist over 60 Australian exhibitors showcasing their innovation in Singapore at Asia Pacific’s largest ICT industry trade event–Communicasia 2008.
Austrade’s Singapore-based Senior Trade Commissioner, Maurine Lam said, “Australian companies are recognised in South East Asia for their innovation, specialisation in niche technologies and quality of service. A number of Australian companies are already exporting technology services and equipment to the region.
“Across Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, there is a range of emerging opportunities in ICT areas like:
- 3G installation
- bioinformatics
- digital content
- e-security, and
- enterprise software
for industries including tourism, hospitality, retail, logistics, education and manufacturing.
“CommunicAsia showcases the latest trends in the ICT industry to key decision makers from the Asia Pacific. It is an opportunity for Australian exhibitors to meet and network directly with top buyers and systems integrators in the region. This year, Austrade will also bring international buyers from across South East Asia, India, China and Hong Kong to maximise prospects for Australian firms,” she said.
Last year, CommunicAsia attracted 50, 000 international trade visitors from 107 countries.
On Thursday, eleven Australian companies will partake in the first-Austrade organised ICT trade mission to China's largest international software and information service fair, CISIS.
The participating companies will be able to establish relationships directly with potential partners and distributors.
Austrade’s Beijing-based Senior Trade Commissioner, Phil Ingram said, “China is Australia’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade at $58 billion in 2007. Although a lot of attention is focussed on China’s minerals and energy sectors, the potential for trade in ICT goods and services is underrated.
“China is the world’s fastest growing software market–the domestic market alone is expected to exceed US$130 billion by 2010. A number of global technology companies, from Intel to IBM, have invested in China. Intel is set to open a US$2.5 billion microchip factory in Dalian.”
Mr Ingram said Australian firms need not shy away from exporting to China because of concerns about intellectual property (IP) protection.
“Austrade strongly recommends that Australian companies undertake due diligence and pay particular attention to IP protection when exporting to China. It pays to be cautious, but concerns around IP protection need not be a deal breaker.
“As a global exporter, China has a vested interest in IP protection. Chinese R&D businesses, across all sectors, are becoming increasingly proactive when it comes to intellectual property rights,” he said.
In 2006-07, Austrade assisted 771 ICT companies to achieve export sales totalling $1.34 billion.
Austrade has a team of 101 Export Advisers and Business Development Managers in over 40 cities world-wide dedicated to assist ICT businesses through export coaching, development of market entry plans, sourcing of new tenders, building buyer networks, and pursuing specific business opportunities.
* Digital Planet 2008 study released by the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA)
Maurine Lam (Austrade Singapore) and Phil Ingram (Austrade Beijing) are available for interviews.
ENDS
Media contact
Purnima Ganapathy
Tel: +61 9390 2319
Mob: +61 419 127 577
For further news and information from the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) visit www.austrade.gov.au/mediacentre. |