Mr ADAMSON - 1995-08-23
In light of today's historic visit to Darwin by the President of the Philippines, what initiatives will result from this afternoon's signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Northern Territory government and the government of the Philippines?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for his question. This afternoon's signing of the memorandum of understanding represents the successful development of trade and cultural links between the Northern Territory and the Philippines in recent years. The MOU relates specifically to the southern Philippines region of Mindanao. A large proportion of the Northern Territory's live cattle exports now go to the Philippines, and significant government and business contacts have arisen as a result of that. In turn, the Philippines has been a distinguished contributor to Territory events such as the NT Expo and the Arafura Sports Festival.
The former Minister for Industries and Development and a group of government and business representatives attended the first East ASEAN conference in Darwin in November. That visit was very significant in having the Territory recognised by our Asian neighbours as a contributor to the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, East ASEAN Growth Area. The memorandum of understanding will be signed by the Chief Minister and the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao, Mr Paul Dominguez. It aims to promote commercial, cultural,
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sporting and government links between the Territory and the region of Mindanao. It is significant that the high-level government and trade contact proposed in the MOU has commenced already. Mr Dominguez and a business delegation have been in Darwin for several days. Indeed, I met with them 2 days ago. This visit has included a number of discussions with Territory business representatives and tours of facilities associated with the live cattle trade.
I am pleased to advise members that I will be leading a delegation of Territory business representatives to attend the fourth Mindanao Business Conference in General Santos City between 31 August and 3 September. This delegation will meet a number of the obligations that the Territory is entering into by signing this MOU. The delegation will comprise about 20 people, including a large contingent of businessmen, senior officers from my department and representatives from Northern Territory University, the NT Exporters Council, local government and the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade. One of the business representatives will be from South Australia. That is another fine example of using an MOU, because it reflects the MOU that was signed by the Chief Minister and the Premier of South Australia earlier this year. The Mindanao Business Conference is an annual event that has become the premier business event in the region in recent years. Member countries of BIMP-EAGA participate in the conference. About 500 delegates from the Philippines and the East ASEAN region are expected to attend this year. A business exposition is held concurrently with the conference. A Territory display will be mounted this year in conjunction with the Territory delegation's visit
The MOU commits the Territory and the region of Mindanao to coordinate and promote development in: trade and support services; professional services, including health, education and training; exchange of technical and advisory expertise and technology; primary and tertiary industry, including the development of minerals, energy, agriculture, fisheries resources and processing; transport and tourism services; physical infrastructure development, and environmental management and rehabilitation; promotion of each other's language; and cultural and sporting exchanges. It is important to recognise that the MOU is aimed very particularly at strengthening business contacts between the Territory and the region of Mindanao. A coordination committee will be established to facilitate such contact. It is clear that this MOU presents valuable opportunities for the Territory in terms of increased business, and cultural and sporting exchanges with the southern Philippines. I look forward to seeing the benefits of stronger links with the Philippines flow to the Territory in the future. Activities of this kind will expand our business opportunities and employment growth in the Northern Territory. I sincerely hope that everybody enjoys the visit today of President Ramos. This is a further link in a continuing relationship which we hold very dear for the business opportunities that are presented by the signing of such MOUs.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for his question. This afternoon's signing of the memorandum of understanding represents the successful development of trade and cultural links between the Northern Territory and the Philippines in recent years. The MOU relates specifically to the southern Philippines region of Mindanao. A large proportion of the Northern Territory's live cattle exports now go to the Philippines, and significant government and business contacts have arisen as a result of that. In turn, the Philippines has been a distinguished contributor to Territory events such as the NT Expo and the Arafura Sports Festival.
The former Minister for Industries and Development and a group of government and business representatives attended the first East ASEAN conference in Darwin in November. That visit was very significant in having the Territory recognised by our Asian neighbours as a contributor to the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, East ASEAN Growth Area. The memorandum of understanding will be signed by the Chief Minister and the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao, Mr Paul Dominguez. It aims to promote commercial, cultural,
Page 759
sporting and government links between the Territory and the region of Mindanao. It is significant that the high-level government and trade contact proposed in the MOU has commenced already. Mr Dominguez and a business delegation have been in Darwin for several days. Indeed, I met with them 2 days ago. This visit has included a number of discussions with Territory business representatives and tours of facilities associated with the live cattle trade.
I am pleased to advise members that I will be leading a delegation of Territory business representatives to attend the fourth Mindanao Business Conference in General Santos City between 31 August and 3 September. This delegation will meet a number of the obligations that the Territory is entering into by signing this MOU. The delegation will comprise about 20 people, including a large contingent of businessmen, senior officers from my department and representatives from Northern Territory University, the NT Exporters Council, local government and the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade. One of the business representatives will be from South Australia. That is another fine example of using an MOU, because it reflects the MOU that was signed by the Chief Minister and the Premier of South Australia earlier this year. The Mindanao Business Conference is an annual event that has become the premier business event in the region in recent years. Member countries of BIMP-EAGA participate in the conference. About 500 delegates from the Philippines and the East ASEAN region are expected to attend this year. A business exposition is held concurrently with the conference. A Territory display will be mounted this year in conjunction with the Territory delegation's visit
The MOU commits the Territory and the region of Mindanao to coordinate and promote development in: trade and support services; professional services, including health, education and training; exchange of technical and advisory expertise and technology; primary and tertiary industry, including the development of minerals, energy, agriculture, fisheries resources and processing; transport and tourism services; physical infrastructure development, and environmental management and rehabilitation; promotion of each other's language; and cultural and sporting exchanges. It is important to recognise that the MOU is aimed very particularly at strengthening business contacts between the Territory and the region of Mindanao. A coordination committee will be established to facilitate such contact. It is clear that this MOU presents valuable opportunities for the Territory in terms of increased business, and cultural and sporting exchanges with the southern Philippines. I look forward to seeing the benefits of stronger links with the Philippines flow to the Territory in the future. Activities of this kind will expand our business opportunities and employment growth in the Northern Territory. I sincerely hope that everybody enjoys the visit today of President Ramos. This is a further link in a continuing relationship which we hold very dear for the business opportunities that are presented by the signing of such MOUs.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016