Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Media Release
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In recognition of the developing partnership between Australia and Germany in the Asia-Pacific, more than 300 leading Australian and German business people and government officials are expected to attend the Germany-Australia Trade and Investment 'Partnership 2000' conference in Melbourne from 5-7 October 1995.
The conference, which will be hosted by the Minister for Trade, Senator Bob McMullan, will be attended by the German Minister for Post and Telecommunications, Dr Wolfgang Boetsch, and President, Deutsch-Australische Gesellschaft eV and Chairman, Board of Thyssen Industrie Ag, Dr Eckhard Rohkamm. Dr Boetsch and Dr Rohkamm will also lead a delegation of high level German business people and government officials to Australia.
Industries to be highlighted at the conference include automotive, information technology, telecommunications, chemicals, building and construction, mining and services such as banking, finance and transport. German companies attending the conference include BMW, Hoescht, BASF, Bayer, Siemens, Hella, Krone, SAP, Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank, Commerzbank, Hochtief and Bilfinger + Berger.
Senator Bob McMullan said that German companies are increasingly using Australian operations to capitalise on emerging opportunities in Asia.
"Australia, with more than 200 German subsidiaries, is ideally placed to become a centre of excellence, and in turn, regional headquarters for Asia-Pacific operations.
"The combined resources of Australian companies and Australian-based German subsidiaries targeting Asia and Europe can reap major benefits for Australia," he said.
The Australian-German Association is organising the conference in conjunction with the Deutsch-Australische Gesellschaft eV, the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Australien-Neuseeland-Suedpazifik Verein eV.
For further information:
Norman Fay - 61 3 9696 3544
For further conference information:
Conference Australia 61 3 9650 6655