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Division of Investment and Export
PO Box 7970
Madison, WI 53707-7970
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Vol. 8 #1, September 2008

Booming Markets Down Under
"Australia is open for business and seeking American suppliers!" says Ms. Angela Foley, the Council of Great Lakes Governors Sydney-based Trade Director.  The mining and minerals sectors in particular (approximately 8 percent of the Australian economy) are booming, creating supply opportunities for heavy equipment and parts, mine safety equipment, automated materials handling equipment and mine planning software. Australia has the world’s largest resources of lead, mineral sands, tantalum, uranium, silver and zinc, along with brown and black coal. It is also in the top three for alumina, bauxite, copper, cobalt, diamonds, gold, iron ore, manganese ore and nickel. As a result of the resource-led boom, stimulated by especially strong demand from China, flow-on opportunities exist to supply products such as supply chain software, environmental compliance technology (clean air/alternative energy solutions); infrastructure development products and services (e.g. equipment for ports, security etc). Other sectors offering opportunities include: IT, machinery, medical, aircraft and parts, automotive parts, transportation equipment and defense equipment.  Ms. Foley also reminds exporters about the benefits of the U.S. – Australian Free Trade Agreement which eliminated import tariffs on 99 percent of American manufactured goods entering Australia making Great Lakes suppliers even more competitive. 

New Zealand is also looking to the U.S. for sources of supply. In 2006-07, U.S. goods accounted for 13 percent of all imports into the country with opportunities specifically in the areas of aviation parts, medical and veterinary instruments, IT, hotel and restaurant equipment, food processing and packaging equipment.

To assist exporters enhance their business relationships with Australia and New Zealand, the Council will lead a trade mission to Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland from March 1 – 11, 2009.  The Council’s Sydney office will complete advance market research, pre-qualify distributors and schedule one-on-one business meetings in both countries for mission participants. Furthermore, participants will attend an in-country business briefing on their arrival in Australia which will provide an overview of local economic conditions, the logistics of exporting to the region, and the legal aspects of negotiating agreements and doing business in the region. To learn more about the trade mission, contact Ms. Susan Dragotta, susan.dragotta@wisconsin.gov, ph: (262) 691-5147.

-- Zoë Munro, Council of Great Lakes Governors Program Manager