MENA strengthen ties with Australia

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) will host a series of events to promote the bilateral trade, investment and cultural ties that exist between Australia and the MENA region from 13-16 April. Known as Australia Unlimited MENA 2014, the program includes promotional activities held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Muscat, Kuwait and Rabat. Australian expertise will be showcased across a number of sectors including education and research, water resource management, food safety, agribusiness, infrastructure investment and construction.

Pablo Kang, Australian Ambassador to the UAE and Qatar says: "Australia and the GCC share many similarities in the environmental challenges we face, therefore we are well positioned to share our expertise in best practice management and innovative technologies. In the 15 years since the opening of the Australian Embassy in the UAE, we are proud of the accomplishments and advances we both have made."

One of the most notable achievements is the online visa application for GCC citizens, significantly easing the visa process. In the past year alone, 119,000 visitors from the MENA region traveled to and through Australia, a 7 per cent year-on-year increase. Through this new development, combined with the existing 126 flights to Australia from the UAE per week, the UAE has become a central hub, connecting Australia to the rest of the world, set to further improve business and trade channels between the nations.

Australia's merchandise exports to the GCC have risen by almost 30 per cent year on year. The UAE is Australia's largest trading partner in the MENA region, and now ranks as Australia's 13th largest export destination, benefitting from exports in motor vehicles, oil-seeds, fruits and vegetables, and meat. Meanwhile the UAE ranks 16th for imports of Australian products, with its most notable merchandise being crude petroleum, primary ethylene polymers, tubes and pipes of iron and steel, floor coverings and glassware.

Australian Consul General to Dubai and Senior Trade Commissioner MENA, Gerard Seeber said the program is a chance to celebrate growing trade, investment and education links. "Austrade is delighted to be hosting the Australia Unlimited MENA 2014 event in the region to build awareness, cultural ties and long-term relationships in bilateral trade," Seeber said. "We already have 350 Australian businesses in the UAE and 16,000 Australian expatriates but we want to introduce more Australians to the UAE and the wider MENA region and also look forward to welcoming MENA residents and Australia for both business and pleasure."

This year's event is supported by platinum sponsors Aconex and QANTAS Airways Ltd. and gold sponsors the State Government Victoria Australia, S P Jain School of Global Management and Navitas Middle East & North Africa.

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