New opportunities in the Middle East for Australian

businesses the focus of Sydney forum

Australian businesses will be able to find new opportunities to trade in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at the 2012 Australia Arab Business Forum & Expo at Sydney’s Sheraton on the Park on June 5 and 6.

Representatives of the region’s governments and medium and small businesses will promote emerging markets with a combined GDP of more than $2 trillion.

As well as flagging opportunities for Australian businesses in their countries, they will provide market intelligence and link Australian companies with MENA networks.

Australia’s only conference promoting trade between the two regions, the Forum is expected to attract more than 300 people from 14 Middle Eastern and North African countries and Australia.

See the program – http://www.austarab.com.au/forum-expo-program

Among the high profile MENA speakers and delegates will be –

Her Excellency Sheika Lubna Al Qassimi, Minister for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates, recently ranked as the world’s most powerful Arab Woman

Yasmina Azhari, Vice President, Syrian Trade Coordination Office

Dr Ashraf Mahate, Head of Export Market Intelligence, Dubai Export Development Corporation, Senior Lecturer, University of Wollongong Dubai Campus

His Excellency Dr. Eng. Mahmoud Eisa, Minister for Industry and Foreign Trade, Arab Republic of Egypt

His Excellency Mr Mohamed Mael-Anin, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco

Mr Laurie Voyer, Managing Director Habtoor Leighton Group, Dubai

Her Excellency Rima Ahmeed Alaadeen, Jordanian Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand

Dr Alaa Al Ezz, Secretary General, Confederation of Egyptian-European Business Associations, Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce

Her Excellency Reem Badran, Second Vice Chair Amman Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Jordanian Parliament

Usamah Al Kurdi, Member of the Saudi Arabia Shura Council

Mr Russell Read, CFA, Chief Investment Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, Gulf Investment Corporation, Kuwait

Mohammed Kamran Wajid, General Manager, Emirates NBD

Mr Andrew Parker, Environment Affairs, Emirates Airlines, UAE

Among the high profile Australian speakers and delegates will be –

Mr Ray Najar, National Chairman, Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Mr Jason Habak, Consultant, PricewaterhouseCoopers Sydney

Mr Kim Chance, Western Australian Board Member of AACCI, former WA Minister for Agriculture

Mr Tom McKeon, Chief Executive Officer, Hassad Food Australia

Mr Gary Helou, Managing Director, Murray Goulburn Cooperative

The Hon Andrew Stoner, Deputy Premier of the NSW Government

Mr Rob Boulger, Global Leader for Rail, Laing O’Rourke Australia

Mr Paul Morris, Global Leader for Property and Buildings GHD

Mr John Julian, Senior Investment Specialist Infrastructure, AMP Capital

Mr Syd Giller, Chairman, Australia Oman Business Council

The Forum will focus on –

Infrastructure and construction opportunities in Australia and the Arab world in rail, commercial property, ports and highways

Bilateral opportunities for foreign direct investment

Australia’s role in agribusiness exports

Investment in agriculture

Islamic finance as a source of institutional and retail finance in Australia

The ramifications of the Arab Spring for trade and investment

Strategies for sustainable food security in the Middle East

Opportunities for construction projects for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup

Country-specific presentations by Arab diplomats

Among the Forum sponsors are –

Emirates, the Council for Australia-Arab Relations (CAAR), Hassad Food Australia, AMP Capital, Austrade, Habtoor Leighton Group and Leighton Holdings, PwC, Victorian Department of Business & Innovation,UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade, Trade & Investment Queensland, Western Union Business Solutions, GHD.

Record Arabic attendance at Forum

highlights potential for trade

A record attendance of Arabic countries at Sydney’s 2012 Australia Arab Business Forum & Expo on June 5 and 6 will provide huge potential for Australia to increase trade.

Business and governments from more than 14 Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries are sending representatives to Australia’s only event promoting business between the two regions.

“This represents a surprising increase in business engagement with the Middle East,” said Mr Syd Giller, Chairman of the Australia Oman Business Council.

“Australia is now seen as a destination for business right across the Middle East North Africa region.

“The presence of Arabic businesses at the Forum will put the focus on new export opportunities.

“It will also highlight the tremendous opportunities for joint ventures both here overseas.”

Countries represented at the Forum, to be held at Sydney’s Sheraton on the Park, include Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, Palestine. Interest in the Forum has extended to participation by companies from India.

“I am excited that the Forum will give Arabic countries the attention by Australian businesses that they deserve,” said Mr Giller. 2

At the Forum, Oman will showcase its $85 billion in infrastructure development currently under way.

Projects include five new airports, the upgrading of the Muscat and Salalah airports, the development of Al Duqn Port and the upgrading of existing ports.

Linking ports, airports, free trade zones and distribution hubs, the Government of Oman is planning to build comprehensive rail links that will provide connections to the planned Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) rail network.

Major developments in resorts and tourism activities are also being undertaken, including a $300 million resort development awarded to a major Australian construction group,.

“This is a great example of an Australian company participating in opportunities in Oman and highlights the opportunities for many others,” said Mr Giller. Mr Giller is also a board member of the Council for Australia Arab Relations (CAAR), immediate Past-Chairman of the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AACCI) and has lived and worked in and with the Middle East for more than 30 years.

“In the last 10 yrs there has been a considerable inflow of Omani investment in Australian nd in commercial property and engineering projects.

“Australia is now the destination of first choice for students studying overseas, and a number of Australians are now involved in education institutions in Oman. This in particular can only extend and consolidate and already active engagement.”