Trade Queensland, Advance Cairns and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council are joining forces to bring the first Bridge to China forum to Cairns this month.

Learn first-hand about market opportunities for goods and services in Hong Kong and Southern China, as well as information on the forthcoming China International Small to Medium Enterprise Fair (CISMEF) in Guangzhou (15–18 September 2010).

The forum will feature a presentation on the following topics:

• Hong Kong – gateway into Southern China
• Guangdong market overview – one of the preferred destinations for investment and trade in Southern China
• Updates on CISMEF, Queensland’s participation and how you can participate
• Food and agribusiness
• Education and training.

Cairns Mayor Val Schier will open the forum, while Bonnie Shek, Director of Australia and New Zealand, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, will be the keynote speaker presenting on trade and investment opportunities in Hong Kong and Southern China.

(Download Bridge To China Cairns Flyer)

Date: Tuesday 1 June 2010

Time: 8.45 am for 9.00 am start – 12.00 pm

Venue: Shangri-La Marina Hotel

Cost: No charge (light refreshments included)

Please RSVP to: Michelle Jago

via email sao@advancecairns.com or on

07 4080 2900 by Monday, May 24

The Queensland Government invites you to participate in a cross-sectoral trade mission to Papua New Guinea, led by the Queensland Treasurer, the Honourable Andrew Fraser MP.

The mission will take place from Monday, March 15 to Thursday, March 18, and will focus on:

■■ PNG-LNG projects: equipment, technology and services

■■ mining projects: equipment, technology and services

■■ infrastructure: transport, roads, port, and airport development

■■ building and construction

■■ vocational training: all sectors

■■ international development: health, education and training, infrastructure and public sector capacity development.

For more information, and to register to attend the mission download the following PDF: Trade QLD mission to PNG March 15-18, 2010

Last week’s Australian Tropical Expertise Consortium Business Matching Roadshow rolled through Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton with great success, attracting up to 60 participants from the host regions and beyond.

The Roadshow, delivered by Advance Cairns and with the support of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Industry (DEEDI), was designed to facilitate relationship building between Australian Managing Contractors  and Tropical Experts from across North and Central Queensland, by bringing capital city-based AMCs and project co-ordinating firms to the regions.

Six presenters shared their insights into the many intricacies of international development business, including how to tender for such work, how to establish in-country relationships, and what AMCs and project co-ordinating firms are looking for when engaging with subcontractors for major projects. 

The four main business capability areas of Tropical Expertise (Tropical Living, Tropical Environmental Management, Tropical Health and Tropical Agribusiness) were well represented by the attendees in all three locations with a mix of skills and knowledge in areas such as animal reproduction, climate change, renewable energy, tropical architecture, sustainable architectural design, tropical disease management, training and OH&S, coastal land management, education, construction, and mapping.

Structured networking and informal networking opportunities during each leg of the Roadshow identified dozens of synergies between attendees and the presenters, with at least three connections now being formalised into joint project work.

If you missed the Roadshow then all of the presenter’s Powerpoint presentations are now available for viewing, via the links below: 

Peter Goldsworthy, Trade Queensland – Presentation

Vincent Sacriz, QUT- Presentation

Janette Clonan, ATEC Business Matching Contractor – Presentation

Ian McLeod, McLeod Training – Presentation

Harleigh Luscombe, Uniquest – Presentation

Clare Woolsey, JTA International – Presentation

Eric Kalmbach, Cardno PNG – Presentation

Due to the success of the Roadshow, plans are already underway to hold the event again in 2010. So if you missed it this year then there will be another opportunity to meet with various AMCs and project co-ordinating firms at a region near you next year.