Austrade media release

8 June 2007

Business Club Australia, the award-winning international business program supported by Austrade, turned its attention to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games today as a major sporting event to platform its series of networking and business initiatives designed to deliver tangible outcomes for Australian exporters. 

Austrade CEO, Peter O’Byrne, said Business Club Australia – Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, endorsed by the Australian Olympic Committee as Australia’s official international business program at the Games, had a proven track record of turning the excitement and global attention of high profile sporting events, into long-term and profitable business connections.

“The Business Club Australia program to date has delivered $1.7b in business deals, has 8,500 members from Australia and overseas, and has staged 260 worldwide events with business people from around the world,” Mr O’Byrne said.

“I strongly encourage Australian businesses travelling to Beijing during the Olympics to take advantage of the networking events that will take place at the Novotel Peace Hotel and the one-on-one meetings organised for Australian and international businesses.”

Austrade Senior Trade Commissioner in Beijing, Peter Osborne, said the Business Club Australia program offers exciting business potential in Beijing as he believes one of the important factors for export success in China is to understand how the market works ‘on-the-ground’.

“Chinese business practice is heavily relationship-based and Australian companies need to be willing to spend time in the market with their business partners to develop strong relationships and trust, on which very good business can be achieved,” Mr Osborne said.

There are 30 Australian companies who have so far won contracts and will be on display in Beijing, a perfect showcase of their skills and expertise to the whole world. 

Woodhead has supplied architectural services to China including Qingdao Boutique Hotel and the Panyu Olympic Recreation Centre in Guangdong Province. The Principal of Woodhead, Robert Hopton, was involved with Business Club Australia during the Sydney 2000 Olympics and the firm subsequently won design contracts in Singapore with Austrade’s support.

The Australian Government Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, officially opened Business Club Australia - Beijing 2008 Olympic Games today at the Imperial Peking Harbourside Restaurant in Sydney. The high-profile business audience included the President of the Australian Olympic Committee, John Coates, and Consul General of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Shaofang Qiu.

Business Club Australia will run business networking programs in and around the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games both in Australia and Beijing. 

For further information about Business Club Australia visit: www.businessclubaustralia.com.au

Media contact

Name:  Caroline James
Mob:     0413 481-579
Email:   caroline.james@austrade.gov.au

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