Mr MITCHELL - 1997-04-30
I understand the government participated recently in an international trade and investment fair in Macau. What benefits will Territorians gain from this?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, we did indeed participate, through the Department of Asian Relations, Trade and Industry, in the second Macau International Trade and Investment Fair. It was held from 9 to 13 April and already the Territory looks likely to obtain some excellent results. I should point out that, in addition to the 2 departmental representatives, some 15 Territory agencies and companies exhibited or were represented on the Northern Territory stand at this fair. As well as its participation in the fair, the Northern Territory sponsored a 2-week Australian food and wine fair that was launched at the Holiday Inn in Macau and included produce from Darwin-based food exporters. Promotional seminars on the Territory were also conducted in several major centres - in Hainan province, at Haikou, and in Guandong province, as well as Macau, Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shantou - with trade, business investment and business migration opportunities all being discussed. Considerable interest was elicited at both the Northern Territory exhibition stand and the promotional seminars, and the Territory received extensive press and TV coverage throughout the region.
I wish to highlight some of the progress that has resulted already from the Territory's participation in the Macau fair. A major Macau-based Chinese construction company is
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currently developing an initial proposal for a low-density resort development on a site near central Darwin. A major Chinese firm, involved in the construction of a marina and aquatic park in Macau, is interested in the design, engineering and water-management services of a Darwin firm. The Guangzhou Industry and Commerce Association has expressed interest in forming an affiliation with the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Shantou Free Trade Zone directors wish to discuss affiliation with the Darwin Trade Development Zone, and the directors have agreed to send a delegation to the Territory. An agreement has been established between the Northern Territory Department of Education and representatives of Yu Lin prefecture in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region to send up to 50 secondary school students a year to the Territory. In tuition fees alone, this is worth some $375 000 per annum. Mr Jeremy Huyton, of the NTU School of Tourism and Hospitality, was able to pursue several opportunities in hospitality training in Guandong province, in collaboration with Tasmania's TAFE under our MOU partnership with Tasmania.
There have been negotiations between an Alice Springs sports betting agency and STDM, a tourism and entertainment company in Macau operated by Mr Stanley Ho, to obtain an operating licence in Macau. There were discussions between Roper River Resources and a major financier and investment broker regarding investment in the mining of iron ore reserves at Roper River. Yaohan, a major Japanese supermarket chain with outlets throughout the People's Republic of China, has agreed to trial Australian produce, starting with a promotion at the end of May. A Chinese-owned food supermarket chain in Guangzhou has requested Territory assistance in the procurement of Australian foodstuffs, both fresh and processed. A Guangdong-based importer of livestock feed, fertiliser and animal byproducts is seeking 118 ft x 20 ft container loads of tallow monthly from Australia. Supplies have been found and efforts are now being made to channel these supplies through the Port of Darwin.
The principal of an Australian wine company, Stacey's Bridge Wines, displayed his products on the Northern Territory stand and, through the government's introductions, met a number of buyers. The principal, Mr Murray Shoegold, is committed to exporting both bulk and bottled wines to China through the Port of Darwin. Guangxi province principals are holding discussions with representatives from the Territory citrus and mango sectors, seeking cooperation in the development of cultivars, plantation management and post-harvest handling. A Guangxi corporation, which has developed advanced diagnostic software for the automotive industry, is considering sourcing hardware from within Australia for assembly and integration at the Darwin Trade Development Zone for export to China. The same Guangxi corporation is seeking automotive repair and maintenance training and has been introducing courses compiled by a Darwin company, Automotive Training International (NT) Ltd.
At the same time, the Territory identified opportunities in Hainan province for Australian businesses. The government team found that there was opportunity for involvement in an international-aid-funded project for the supply of an automated vegetable-packing plant. The same company is now seeking to source tropical melon, fruit and vegetable varieties from Australia. A tropical fruit beverage processing factory, now selling to Europe, also requires advanced juicing and juice-concentration equipment. A major company handling mineral exports into China is seeking a variety of minerals - in particular, manganese ore lumps. In addition, at least 60 delegates from the People's Republic of China confirmed their participation in NT Expo 97. Other opportunities emerged from seminars and subsequent
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meetings with government and business leaders, and these will be outlined in a report that will be released next month.
Members interjecting.
Mr POOLE: I pick up the interjections from members opposite. They do not like to hear good news of any kind about the Northern Territory.
Mrs Hickey: You are wasting time.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr POOLE: I am answering the question about what happened and the results of our participation at the Macau fair. You just do not like any good news. You are the gloom and doom merchants of the Northern Territory.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr POOLE: I am sorry if I have offended them by talking nicely about some of the good things that occur to provide employment for Territorians and Territorian kids. You guys are so negative you are unbelievable.
Page 2098
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, we did indeed participate, through the Department of Asian Relations, Trade and Industry, in the second Macau International Trade and Investment Fair. It was held from 9 to 13 April and already the Territory looks likely to obtain some excellent results. I should point out that, in addition to the 2 departmental representatives, some 15 Territory agencies and companies exhibited or were represented on the Northern Territory stand at this fair. As well as its participation in the fair, the Northern Territory sponsored a 2-week Australian food and wine fair that was launched at the Holiday Inn in Macau and included produce from Darwin-based food exporters. Promotional seminars on the Territory were also conducted in several major centres - in Hainan province, at Haikou, and in Guandong province, as well as Macau, Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shantou - with trade, business investment and business migration opportunities all being discussed. Considerable interest was elicited at both the Northern Territory exhibition stand and the promotional seminars, and the Territory received extensive press and TV coverage throughout the region.
I wish to highlight some of the progress that has resulted already from the Territory's participation in the Macau fair. A major Macau-based Chinese construction company is
Page 2096
currently developing an initial proposal for a low-density resort development on a site near central Darwin. A major Chinese firm, involved in the construction of a marina and aquatic park in Macau, is interested in the design, engineering and water-management services of a Darwin firm. The Guangzhou Industry and Commerce Association has expressed interest in forming an affiliation with the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Shantou Free Trade Zone directors wish to discuss affiliation with the Darwin Trade Development Zone, and the directors have agreed to send a delegation to the Territory. An agreement has been established between the Northern Territory Department of Education and representatives of Yu Lin prefecture in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region to send up to 50 secondary school students a year to the Territory. In tuition fees alone, this is worth some $375 000 per annum. Mr Jeremy Huyton, of the NTU School of Tourism and Hospitality, was able to pursue several opportunities in hospitality training in Guandong province, in collaboration with Tasmania's TAFE under our MOU partnership with Tasmania.
There have been negotiations between an Alice Springs sports betting agency and STDM, a tourism and entertainment company in Macau operated by Mr Stanley Ho, to obtain an operating licence in Macau. There were discussions between Roper River Resources and a major financier and investment broker regarding investment in the mining of iron ore reserves at Roper River. Yaohan, a major Japanese supermarket chain with outlets throughout the People's Republic of China, has agreed to trial Australian produce, starting with a promotion at the end of May. A Chinese-owned food supermarket chain in Guangzhou has requested Territory assistance in the procurement of Australian foodstuffs, both fresh and processed. A Guangdong-based importer of livestock feed, fertiliser and animal byproducts is seeking 118 ft x 20 ft container loads of tallow monthly from Australia. Supplies have been found and efforts are now being made to channel these supplies through the Port of Darwin.
The principal of an Australian wine company, Stacey's Bridge Wines, displayed his products on the Northern Territory stand and, through the government's introductions, met a number of buyers. The principal, Mr Murray Shoegold, is committed to exporting both bulk and bottled wines to China through the Port of Darwin. Guangxi province principals are holding discussions with representatives from the Territory citrus and mango sectors, seeking cooperation in the development of cultivars, plantation management and post-harvest handling. A Guangxi corporation, which has developed advanced diagnostic software for the automotive industry, is considering sourcing hardware from within Australia for assembly and integration at the Darwin Trade Development Zone for export to China. The same Guangxi corporation is seeking automotive repair and maintenance training and has been introducing courses compiled by a Darwin company, Automotive Training International (NT) Ltd.
At the same time, the Territory identified opportunities in Hainan province for Australian businesses. The government team found that there was opportunity for involvement in an international-aid-funded project for the supply of an automated vegetable-packing plant. The same company is now seeking to source tropical melon, fruit and vegetable varieties from Australia. A tropical fruit beverage processing factory, now selling to Europe, also requires advanced juicing and juice-concentration equipment. A major company handling mineral exports into China is seeking a variety of minerals - in particular, manganese ore lumps. In addition, at least 60 delegates from the People's Republic of China confirmed their participation in NT Expo 97. Other opportunities emerged from seminars and subsequent
Page 2097
meetings with government and business leaders, and these will be outlined in a report that will be released next month.
Members interjecting.
Mr POOLE: I pick up the interjections from members opposite. They do not like to hear good news of any kind about the Northern Territory.
Mrs Hickey: You are wasting time.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr POOLE: I am answering the question about what happened and the results of our participation at the Macau fair. You just do not like any good news. You are the gloom and doom merchants of the Northern Territory.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr POOLE: I am sorry if I have offended them by talking nicely about some of the good things that occur to provide employment for Territorians and Territorian kids. You guys are so negative you are unbelievable.
Page 2098
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016