Australian Trade Commission introduces Business Club Australia in South India
Australia has a proven model to promote trade & investments through major international sporting events. The Australian Trade Commission - Australian Government’s international trade and investment promotion agency’s Business Club Australia program has been successful in promoting trade & investment at major international sporting events.
Introducing the Business Club Australia program in South India, The Australian Trade Commission organised a business networking event at Hyderabad on Friday, October 23, 2009 aligned to the finals of the T20 Champions League Cricket at Hyderabad.
Mr Adam Gilchrist, Former Australian Cricketer and Brand Ambassador, University of Wollongong participated in the networking session, representing the University of Wollongong. More than 80 people representing Indian & Australian businesses participated at the networking event. The event provided an excellent platform for participating Australian & Indian businesses to explore potential business relationships
Business Club Australia
The Australian Trade Commission runs business networking programs around major international sporting events through Business Club Australia. The success of the first program in the Sydney 2000 Olympics has made Business Club Australia programs & activities a constant fixture around many major international sporting events.
The Australian Trade Commission is running the Business Club Australia program alongside key international sporting events that includes Commonwealth Games 2010 in New Delhi; Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympics Winter Games; 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa; London 2012 Olympic Games; 2011 Cricket World Cup in South Asia and Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand
Business Club Australia at 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi
In India, The Australian Trade Commission is running a Business Club Australia program leading up to and during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and has been working closely with the organising committee to offer Australian expertise in the organisation of the games. Australian expertise, products and services are playing an integral role in the design, planning, engineering, construction and implementation of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Australian companies are involved in projects ranging from design of games village; design of stadiums for net ball & rugby disciplines; design of archery & practice venues; detailing of stadium infrastructure; landscaping of the games village; catering consulting to games planning & venues consulting. Information on Business Club Australia for the Commonwealth Games 2010 is available at http://www.austrade.gov.au/BCA-Delhi-2010/default.aspx
The Success of Business Club Australia
At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Business Club Australia (BCA) show cased Australia to an international audience, bringing together 4000 business representatives at more than 50 events, BCA assisted Australian companies with introductions and networking opportunities and provided a platform to engage with China, Australia’s largest trading partner
The success of Australian Trade Commission’s Business Club Australia program is being replicated by other international trade promotion organisations including in India, Canada, New Zealand & Scotland. India has launched a similar club - Business Club India around Commonwealth Games 2010 New Delhi.
Speaking about Business Club Australia at the networking event, Mr Michael Carter, Trade Commissioner, Australian High Commission, said, “Australia and India have a strong and growing commercial, investment, trade and services relationship. The economic relationship with India has grown faster than any of Australia’s top 30 export markets over the past five years. Sports is a binding force for strengthening and enhancing people to people linkages which would act as a trigger for growth in trade, investments, tourism. We see the Commonwealth Games 2010 and our initiatives around the Games like Business Club Australia as catalysts in further strengthening Australia – India relationships”
University of Wollongong - Innovation Campus
The University of Wollongong participated at the business networking function. The University of Wollongong is a leading research institution based in Wollongong. The university has several internationally recognised research institutes and the largest university based information and communications technology research centre in Australia. The University has developed a unique research and development precinct called the Innovation Campus at a beachside location. This A$ 500 million campus offers a gateway to Australia for innovative Indian companies.
Mr Adam Gilchrist and Mr Chris Grange, Vice Principal [Administration], University of Wollongong outlined the opportunities that exist for Indian companies interested in investing in Australia.
Speaking about the innovation campus, Mr Adam Gilchrist said, “The Innovation Campus reminds me so much of the new technology-based developments I have seen in cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad, so I was able to assure Indian companies looking for an Australian base that they would feel right at home and about the advantages of linking with a really good organisation that provides them with all kinds of benefits, from research partnerships and well-qualified staff to a great part of Australia to live in.”
The innovation campus has generated considerable interest among Indian companies to establish research and development partnerships with the University of Wollongong’s research teams. The University of Wollongong have reached an agreement with an Indian ICT company and are in advanced discussions with several ICT organisations for establishing a presence at the innovation campus. The University of Wollongong are also exploring partnerships with Indian educational institutions for developing innovative models of higher education in India.
Pearls Group
The business networking event was supported by the New Delhi based Pearls Group. The Pearls group is involed in infrastructure, building & construction, tourism and hospitality; food and beverage; agri-business; financial services; healthcare; education, and media services. The Pearls Group has an active Australian business interests involving Australia that includes import of wines, spices, almonds and agri-products. Pearls is also launching Victoria Bitter , a premium Australian beer in India.
The Pearls Group recently invested A$100 million to undertake property development projects across Australia.
Doing Business with Australia
For more information on accessing Australian products, technologies, expertise & services; business & partnership opportunities with Australian firms and for information on Business Club Australia, please contact Michael Carter, Trade Commissioner, Australian Trade Commission at michael.carter@austrade.gov.au or at +91114139 9961 or visit www.utsavaustralia.in