Austrade media release

06 Nov 2006

The race is on for local companies to turn the excitement and global attention of the 2006 Emirates Melbourne Cup into long-term, profitable connections through Austrade’s international networking program, Business Club Australia.

While hats and horses compete for the limelight, Australian companies will be rubbing shoulders with leading international business visitors from New Zealand, Germany, the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and the United Kingdom at a networking event hosted by Business Club Australia (BCA) at Flemington on Tuesday.

Australian Government Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, who will join business representatives at the event, said he welcomed the unique forum Business Club Australia provided for Australian businesses to meet and develop international business partners.

“The Melbourne Cup is more than a horse race and Business Club Australia provides local companies with an effective way to capitalise on this high-profile event to find new markets and develop strategic overseas contacts,” Mr Truss said.

“The Business Club Australia program has already demonstrated its ability to deliver significant business outcomes for Australia. Previous BCA programs run in association with the Sydney Olympics, Rugby World Cup 2003 and the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games have helped Australian businesses generate international deals worth more than A$1.7 billion,” Mr Truss said.

Austrade CEO, Peter O’Byrne, said Austrade had developed the award-winning business matching program as a way to leverage the important networking opportunities offered by the large business audiences attracted by major sporting events.

“Business Club Australia now boasts more than 8,500 members, from Australia and around the world, who can access the many benefits offered by this innovative business program, including online services, business matching and networking events.

“In addition to our ongoing work with the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) around the Spring Racing Carnival we are also developing Business Club Australia programs for the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Rugby World Cup 2007 to be held next year in France, and several other major events.

“I strongly encourage companies to take advantage of the innovative Business Club Australia’s program which has a proven track record of helping businesses grow by developing international business links,” Mr O’Byrne said.

According to Austrade’s Chief Economist, Tim Harcourt, the cooperation between Business Club Australia and the VRC to promote international business through the Melbourne Cup is already paying dividends.

“Two major players in the equine industry, APB Distribution which produces Elmore Oil and New Zealand’s Oxyshot are now looking to team up following their introduction through the Club. The BCA concept is once again demonstrating the power of business networking at major events to deliver impressive results,” Mr Harcourt said.

Managed by Austrade, Business Club Australia is a free membership-based business matching program creating international business opportunities from major international sporting events, for more information or to register visit: www.businessclubaustralia.com.au.

ENDS

Media contact

Gregory Harvey
Tel: 02 9390-2703

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