Mr SETTER - 1995-10-18
I understand that the Northern Territory will participate in the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, East ASEAN Growth Area Expo which is soon to be held in Brunei. Can the minister provide the information about the Territory's participation?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am happy to inform members about the upcoming BIMP-EAGA Expo which will take place in Brunei from 1 to 5 November. The Northern Territory was invited to participate by the head of the Prime Minister's Department of the Brunei government, Dato Alimin, during his presentation to our own NT Expo. The government has reserved 200 m2 of floor space and so far 25 business people have confirmed that they will attend the BIMP-EAGA Expo. They represent 16 companies, 12 of which will display exhibits. There will be 3 representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry also. In addition, there will be representatives from my department and the Department of Sport and Recreation, and a small group of Territory media representatives.
Hon John Olsen, the Minister for Industry, Manufacturing, Small Business and Regional Development will lead a delegation of 17 South Australians, representing 11 companies. Our joint attendance at the BIMP-EAGA Expo is seen as a measure of the effectiveness of the recently signed MOU between the Northern Territory and South Australia. Both governments have provided funding support to assist the attendance of businesses by paying 50% of the site hire fees. Northern Territory businesses may be eligible also for assistance through my department's Export Marketing Assistance Scheme (EMAS). EMAS is targeted specifically at small- and medium-sized businesses that characterise the Territory. It reaches businesses which Austrade, with its high expenditure threshold, is unable to assist. In addition, a 20 ft container was provided to transport exhibit material from Darwin to Brunei on 9 October. A number of stands will be set up at the expo, including displays of visual and performing arts, to give visitors a clear and positive impression of the cultural life of the Northern Territory as well as Territory business.
Participation in this expo allows us the opportunity to demonstrate our continuing commitment to the East ASEAN Growth Area and further our case for association with this latest area of trade growth. Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are each being provided with 1000 m2 of space, while Brunei is taking 1600 m2. Other countries participating are subject to confirmation, but I understand from the Brunei government that France, the United
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Kingdom, India and Pakistan are likely exhibitors. The expo provides the Territory and South Australia with the opportunity to showcase their capabilities and products to business people representing a regional market of over 35 million people, many of whom have disposable purchasing power equivalent to the average Australian. At the same time, we have the opportunity to promote Darwin as Asia's gateway to Australia through our new port, the railway, and our ability to sustain mining and agricultural activities in the region. I plan to attend the expo together with the Chief Minister. Our combined presence will send a strong message about this government's political commitment to BIMP-EAGA - a message which we know will not go unnoticed in Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.
I am pleased to advise members that the memorandum of understanding with Brunei has been finalised. Confirmation was received from the Brunei Department of Industry and Primary Resources on 16 October. As a consequence, the signing of the MOU is planned for 30 October, in Brunei, at an 8 pm dinner function to be hosted by the Brunei Minister for Industry and Primary Resources. That will leave Malaysia as the only BIMP-EAGA country with which this government has not signed an MOU, but I am confident that we will reach similar agreement with the states of Sabah and Sarawak. Our activities to achieve association with BIMP-EAGA will then be complete, and the Territory will be able to claim justifiably that it has shown Australia the way in taking its place in Asia for our country's future prosperity. The Northern Territory's participation in the Brunei expo is a landmark event, in terms both of our commitment to Asia and our ongoing relationship with our northern neighbours.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am happy to inform members about the upcoming BIMP-EAGA Expo which will take place in Brunei from 1 to 5 November. The Northern Territory was invited to participate by the head of the Prime Minister's Department of the Brunei government, Dato Alimin, during his presentation to our own NT Expo. The government has reserved 200 m2 of floor space and so far 25 business people have confirmed that they will attend the BIMP-EAGA Expo. They represent 16 companies, 12 of which will display exhibits. There will be 3 representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry also. In addition, there will be representatives from my department and the Department of Sport and Recreation, and a small group of Territory media representatives.
Hon John Olsen, the Minister for Industry, Manufacturing, Small Business and Regional Development will lead a delegation of 17 South Australians, representing 11 companies. Our joint attendance at the BIMP-EAGA Expo is seen as a measure of the effectiveness of the recently signed MOU between the Northern Territory and South Australia. Both governments have provided funding support to assist the attendance of businesses by paying 50% of the site hire fees. Northern Territory businesses may be eligible also for assistance through my department's Export Marketing Assistance Scheme (EMAS). EMAS is targeted specifically at small- and medium-sized businesses that characterise the Territory. It reaches businesses which Austrade, with its high expenditure threshold, is unable to assist. In addition, a 20 ft container was provided to transport exhibit material from Darwin to Brunei on 9 October. A number of stands will be set up at the expo, including displays of visual and performing arts, to give visitors a clear and positive impression of the cultural life of the Northern Territory as well as Territory business.
Participation in this expo allows us the opportunity to demonstrate our continuing commitment to the East ASEAN Growth Area and further our case for association with this latest area of trade growth. Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are each being provided with 1000 m2 of space, while Brunei is taking 1600 m2. Other countries participating are subject to confirmation, but I understand from the Brunei government that France, the United
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Kingdom, India and Pakistan are likely exhibitors. The expo provides the Territory and South Australia with the opportunity to showcase their capabilities and products to business people representing a regional market of over 35 million people, many of whom have disposable purchasing power equivalent to the average Australian. At the same time, we have the opportunity to promote Darwin as Asia's gateway to Australia through our new port, the railway, and our ability to sustain mining and agricultural activities in the region. I plan to attend the expo together with the Chief Minister. Our combined presence will send a strong message about this government's political commitment to BIMP-EAGA - a message which we know will not go unnoticed in Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.
I am pleased to advise members that the memorandum of understanding with Brunei has been finalised. Confirmation was received from the Brunei Department of Industry and Primary Resources on 16 October. As a consequence, the signing of the MOU is planned for 30 October, in Brunei, at an 8 pm dinner function to be hosted by the Brunei Minister for Industry and Primary Resources. That will leave Malaysia as the only BIMP-EAGA country with which this government has not signed an MOU, but I am confident that we will reach similar agreement with the states of Sabah and Sarawak. Our activities to achieve association with BIMP-EAGA will then be complete, and the Territory will be able to claim justifiably that it has shown Australia the way in taking its place in Asia for our country's future prosperity. The Northern Territory's participation in the Brunei expo is a landmark event, in terms both of our commitment to Asia and our ongoing relationship with our northern neighbours.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016