Dr LIM - 1996-02-29
NT Expo proved very successful last year. Would the minister advise what plans are being made to ensure its success this year?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. Government members and the department are becoming very excited about the forthcoming NT Expo. It is shaping up to be much bigger and better than ever before. Over the last couple of years, NT Expo has doubled in size and is attracting twice as many international participants. This year, it will run for twice as long - from Tuesday 25 June to Sunday 30 June. The exhibits will be on display for 3 days which is the same as last year. However, instead of participating companies having to cram everything into that period, we decided to have an additional 3-day period preceding the exhibition for business matching sessions and industry conferences. That period will include a food and agricultural industry conference, a tourism and transport conference, a mining industry conference and a construction industry conference.
Last year, NT Expo attracted some 600 international participants. There were more than 100 interstate visitors and 7 South Australia companies set up displays. In addition, there were
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some 40 international and Australian government and private sector VIPs. This year, I am pleased to advise honourable members that there will be many more. Progress to date has been assisted by the appointment of a full-time coordinator, Warwick Hastie, who is employed by the Chamber of Commerce. We expect more than 250 exhibitors, compared with 180 last year, and more than 1000 international participants. Countries that will be represented for the first time this year include Papua New Guinea and Brunei. I am told they are definites. Confirmation has yet to be received from Vietnam, Bali, Java and Central and Western Indonesia. In addition, possible new delegates are expected from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand.
The event this year has been strongly supported by sponsors. I am pleased to inform members that the tourist industry will assist with plans to dress up the city with flags and banners etc to ensure that all of Darwin is involved. For the first time, there will be a VIP golf day. I am sure honourable members are aware that a fair amount of business is conducted on the golf course in Asia. We will be taking advantage of that. We have also invited all state and territory trade ministers to attend this year. There will be much more. I am sure the 3 extra days will help free up exhibiting business owners so they can concentrate on doing business deals. That is what NT Expo is about - creating business.
This year, for the first time, I established the Regional NT Expo Sponsorship Awards. The aim was to assist Territory businesses outside of Darwin by giving them the opportunity to attend the NT Expo and make the most of any business opportunity that might arise. The prize, to 4 companies from our major regional centres, was an `all expenses paid' opportunity to participate in this year's NT Expo, supplied by the Department of Asian Relations, Trade and Industry. The winning companies were selected by the Chamber of Commerce which I thank for doing that job. The winners were: Assaycorp Pty Ltd which operates in the mineral exploration industry and is based at Pine Creek in the Katherine region; Tanami Solar Power, from the Tennant Creek region; the Alice Springs firm Trico Investments Pty Ltd, which develops renewable energy equipment for remote outback areas; and Suntec, a Territory Enterprise Award winner which is involved in the solar power industry and is also based in Alice Springs. Participation by these companies will ensure that, for the first time, all major regions of the Northern Territory will be represented at NT Expo. We are very confident that it will be the biggest and best show that this town has seen for a long time. Certainly, it will continue its reputation as being the best Expo anywhere in Australia.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. Government members and the department are becoming very excited about the forthcoming NT Expo. It is shaping up to be much bigger and better than ever before. Over the last couple of years, NT Expo has doubled in size and is attracting twice as many international participants. This year, it will run for twice as long - from Tuesday 25 June to Sunday 30 June. The exhibits will be on display for 3 days which is the same as last year. However, instead of participating companies having to cram everything into that period, we decided to have an additional 3-day period preceding the exhibition for business matching sessions and industry conferences. That period will include a food and agricultural industry conference, a tourism and transport conference, a mining industry conference and a construction industry conference.
Last year, NT Expo attracted some 600 international participants. There were more than 100 interstate visitors and 7 South Australia companies set up displays. In addition, there were
Page 1259
some 40 international and Australian government and private sector VIPs. This year, I am pleased to advise honourable members that there will be many more. Progress to date has been assisted by the appointment of a full-time coordinator, Warwick Hastie, who is employed by the Chamber of Commerce. We expect more than 250 exhibitors, compared with 180 last year, and more than 1000 international participants. Countries that will be represented for the first time this year include Papua New Guinea and Brunei. I am told they are definites. Confirmation has yet to be received from Vietnam, Bali, Java and Central and Western Indonesia. In addition, possible new delegates are expected from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand.
The event this year has been strongly supported by sponsors. I am pleased to inform members that the tourist industry will assist with plans to dress up the city with flags and banners etc to ensure that all of Darwin is involved. For the first time, there will be a VIP golf day. I am sure honourable members are aware that a fair amount of business is conducted on the golf course in Asia. We will be taking advantage of that. We have also invited all state and territory trade ministers to attend this year. There will be much more. I am sure the 3 extra days will help free up exhibiting business owners so they can concentrate on doing business deals. That is what NT Expo is about - creating business.
This year, for the first time, I established the Regional NT Expo Sponsorship Awards. The aim was to assist Territory businesses outside of Darwin by giving them the opportunity to attend the NT Expo and make the most of any business opportunity that might arise. The prize, to 4 companies from our major regional centres, was an `all expenses paid' opportunity to participate in this year's NT Expo, supplied by the Department of Asian Relations, Trade and Industry. The winning companies were selected by the Chamber of Commerce which I thank for doing that job. The winners were: Assaycorp Pty Ltd which operates in the mineral exploration industry and is based at Pine Creek in the Katherine region; Tanami Solar Power, from the Tennant Creek region; the Alice Springs firm Trico Investments Pty Ltd, which develops renewable energy equipment for remote outback areas; and Suntec, a Territory Enterprise Award winner which is involved in the solar power industry and is also based in Alice Springs. Participation by these companies will ensure that, for the first time, all major regions of the Northern Territory will be represented at NT Expo. We are very confident that it will be the biggest and best show that this town has seen for a long time. Certainly, it will continue its reputation as being the best Expo anywhere in Australia.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016