Austrade media release

Tuesday, 15 April 2008

Australia’s mining expertise and extensive involvement in Latin America’s mining sector will be showcased at EXPOMIN 2008, one of the largest mining trade shows in the world and the largest in the region, held in Santiago, Chile from 15-18 April.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade, John Murphy MP, who will be attending, announced that 60 Australian businesses will be participating as part of Austrade’s Australia Pavilion, exceeding the 50 participants in 2006.

“This year’s contingent of Australian businesses attending the 10th biennial event EXPOMIN trade show, builds on Australia’s involvement in 2006 and increases the potential of generating greater export opportunities,” Mr Murphy said.

“Australia is seen as a quality provider of mining goods and services as well as a major investor, particularly as Australian companies and brands are almost iconic and part of the mining landscape,” Mr Murphy said.

This year’s event is expected to exceed the 60,000 trade visitors and 920 exhibitors from over 25 countries which participated in the 2006 show, when over 3,000 brands covering all products and services used in mining were on display.

Austrade’s Santiago-based Senior Trade Commissioner for Latin America, Nigel Warren, said mining was extremely important to the Chilean economy, accounting for half of the nation’s total exports.

“Chile, Latin America’s largest and most sophisticated mining industry is an excellent venue to draw equipment manufacturers, service providers, agents, distributors and end-users from around the world,” Mr Warren said.
 
“This makes EXPOMIN the ideal event to introduce the latest equipment, machinery, technologies and supplies to the Chilean and Latin American mining industry,” he said.

Mr Warren said the Australian Pavilion at EXPOMIN would display Australian suppliers of mining equipment and technologies, consulting and engineering services, underground mining contract services, research and development and mining education courses from NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.

“Austrade’s Latin American Business Development Managers, from Mexico, Columbia, Peru, Brazil and Argentina, will be in attendance, providing on the ground assistance and escorting customers from their respective markets around EXPOMIN.

“Austrade is also organising a business roundtable for Australian businesses and will for the second time hold an Export Awards night entitled ‘Didgeridoo Awards’ to recognise the achievements of Australian businesses in the mining industry, awarded by Australia’s Ambassador to Chile, His Excellence Crispin Conroy.

“Two awards, the Ambassador's Award (for Chilean business of the Year) and the BHP Billiton Mining Technology and Services Award (for an Australian company) help recognise the growing cooperation between both countries in the mining sector,” Mr Warren said.

Austrade’s Chief Economist, Tim Harcourt, said Australia was one of the five biggest investors in Chile and 90 per cent of this investment related to the mining industry, especially since Chile was the world’s pre-eminent copper producer, with 40 per cent of world output.

“After Brazil, Chile is Australia’s second largest merchandise export market in South America, with over 50 Australian suppliers of mining equipment and services are active in Chile and about 30 have registered offices in Santiago,” Mr Harcourt said.

“Two-way trade between Australia and Chile during 2006-2007 totalled $429 million, with Australia’s exports of good and services to Chile worth more than $320million,” he said.

ENDS

Media contact

Sarkis Khoury
Senior Media Adviser
Tel: +61 2 9390 2118
Mob:+61 414 401 072
Email: sarkis.khoury@austrade.gov.au


For further news and information from the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) visit www.austrade.gov.au/mediacentre.