Follow along with Colleen Jolly of 24 Hour Company as she blogs about her travels to Australia with VEDP’s group market visit.

http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/blogs/Australia_trip/

24 Hour Company · Australia · exports · group market visit · international business · service exporter · VEDP · Virginia

The United States is one of Australia’s most important economic partners, standing as its third largest trading partner as well as largest source of foreign investment and primary destination for Australian investment. 

Australia’s relative market appeal remains convincing with few barriers to entry, a familiar legal and corporate framework, sophisticated consumer and industrial sectors, and a straightforward, English-speaking, business culture.   The Australia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement enhanced the long and successful trading relationship by eliminating tariffs on almost all U.S. manufactured and agricultural goods. 

Sample ‘Hot’ Opportunities for Virginia Clients

Mining – The mining equipment market has been valued at around USD$5 billion and 70% of that equipment is imported with the U.S. being a major supplier. Opportunities exist in the areas of heavy transport equipment for rail and road access to mine sites – maritime port expertise – mining software systems, remote monitoring devices, mine safety and personnel monitoring equipment.       

Rail – The Australian Government is investing ~ USD$8.26 billion to improve and expand rail infrastructure resulting in a demand for innovative solutions in the design, development, construction, operation, maintenance and refurbishment of modern rail systems.

Clean Technology – The country’s USD$4.14 billion Clean Energy Initiative supports the construction and demonstration of large scale integrated carbon capture and storage projects and large scale solar power stations; and the establishing of Renewables Australia to promote the commercialization of renewable technologies. For Virginia exporters opportunities exist for technology to forecast wind energy and wind power generation; solar thermal power system technologies and equipment; solar water heating and pump technologies; and, to a lesser degree; drilling technology and equipment for geothermal exploration.

Information & Communication Technology (ICT) – Specific opportunities exist around the roll-out of Australia’s National Broadband Network (providing 90% of homes, schools and workplaces with ‘fiber to the premises’ delivering speeds of 100 megabits per second and connecting all other premises with next generation wireless and satellite technologies). Also, Australia’s large geographic area and dispersed population present opportunities for wireless solutions that allow the remote monitoring and diagnostics of patients living in rural areas.  

VEDP can help your company get started marketing its products and services during our upcoming Group Market Visit to Australia scheduled for March 21 – 25, 2011.  We will travel to the two major cities, Sydney and Melbourne, which is where the majority of the population and major businesses are located.  Seven Virginia companies are currently registered to attend VEDP’s upcoming group market visit to Australia.  Our in-country partner, Angela Foley, and her team at Foley & Associates are already hard at work identifying and screening potential clients for each participant.  Be assured this will be an exciting and productive visit “down under.” 

For more information regarding the VEDP – International Trade group market visit to Australia, please contact Diane Thomas at dthomas@yesvirginia.org or your local trade manager.

Australia · exports · Foley & Associates · group market visit · international business · international event · travel · VEDP · Virginia