Welcome to the July 2008 edition of ExportActive. Last month we launched the 2008 Tasmanian Export Awards and we encourage all companies to enter this worthwhile event. The Tasmanian Export Awards recognise the important contribution that exporters make to our State’s economy by marketing products and services internationally.
2008 Tasmanian Export Awards Launch
The 2008 Tasmanian Export Awards were launched by the Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, Paula Wriedt MP. The Tasmanian Export Awards recognise Tasmanian businesses for excellence and achievement in exporting.
The seven company award categories in the 2008 Tasmanian Export Awards are:
TasPorts Agribusiness Award
Australian Government Emerging Exporter Award
UK Trade and Investment Information and Communications Technology Award
Caterpillar Underground Mining Small Business Award
Aurora Energy Manufacturer Award
Austrade Services Award
Commonwealth Bank Regional Exporter of the Year Award
Examiner Newspaper Tasmanian Export Awards Media partner
The overall Minister’s Tasmanian Exporter of the Year Award is selected from one of the seven category winners.
In addition to the seven company awards and the Minister’s Tasmanian Exporter of the Year Award, there is a Tasmanian Award for Export Leadership 2008 for an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to exporting and who is an inspiration to others.
In association with our media partner “The Examiner Newspaper” all Tasmanian exporters are encouraged to enter the awards with applications closing on 4 September 2008. Winners will be announced at a Gala Awards Presentation in Hobart on 10 October 2008. The winners of the Tasmanian Export Awards become finalists in the Australian Export Awards.
For more information on the 2008 Tasmanian Export Awards program and how to enter on-line, click here. For all other enquiries contact Mark Warrener on (03) 6233 5879 or email: Mark.Warrener@development.tas.gov.au
National Maritime Safety Conference
Tasmanian maritime businesses have again been showcased at the National Maritime Safety Conference which this year was held in Adelaide in late May 2008. Pivot Maritime and Fiomarine Industries exhibited at the trade display section of the conference, providing valuable opportunities for them to showcase their products and services to hundreds of government and industry representatives from across Australia. For further information please contact Martin.turmine@developmen.tas.gov.au.
Export and Market Development is coordinating participation by Tasmanian companies in a Tasmania grouped exhibit at the Health Informatics Conference 2008 (HIC‘08) and Health-e-Nation 2008, which are being held in Melbourne from 31 August – 3 September 2008.
HIC’08 is Australia’s premier conference on Health Informatics, the discipline that deals with the collection, storage, retrieval, communication and optimal use of health related data, information and knowledge. Health-e-Nation 2008 explores how ICT is helping to deliver quality solutions in hospitals, general and specialist practises, community, home based and aged care. In recent years a growing number of Tasmanian ICT companies are developing software solutions for the health and medical sectors.
In addition to the opportunity to showcase their products and services at HIC 2008, companies will be able to attend the conference and participate in a range of other networking planned activities. To register your interest and for more information contact Mark Warrener, on (03) 6233 5879 or email: Mark.Warrener@development.tas.gov.au.
Export and Market Development will be coordinating a Tasmanian grouping to exhibit at the Fine Food Australia trade show, which is being held in Melbourne from 22-25 September 2008. This trade-only show, features products for retail and food service industries. For more information on the Tasmanian grouping contact Fransina Barns on (03) 6233 5952 or email: Fransina.Barns@development.tas.gov.au.
Ausdex 2009 is an exciting new event on the International Defence and Security Industry calendar, planned to be held at the world-class Perth Convention Exhibition Centre, Western Australia from 9-12 November 2009. Ausdex will be the only event of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region that not only promotes new trends in the air, sea and land operating environments but will also showcase current and emerging trends for security, intelligence, law enforcement, crisis response and emergency service providers. For further information please check the web site http://www.ausdex2009.com/ or contact Kim McShane on (03) 6233 5828 or email: Kim.Mcshane@development.tas.gov.au.
Australia’s trade with India is expanding rapidly. India is the fastest growing of Australia’s major markets, with goods and services growing at an annual average of over 32 per cent during the last five years. India is now Tasmania’s sixth largest trading partner accounting for 7 per cent of merchandise exports.
Australia and India are currently undertaking a feasibility study into the merits of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries, with the study expected to be completed by early 2009.
Export and Market Development is conducting desk research on market opportunities for Tasmanian products and services in India. To register your interest and for more information contact Mark Warrener, on (03) 6233 5879 or email: Mark.Warrener@development.tas.gov.au.
The China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) attracts more than 10,000 business professionals from over 100 countries, and generates billions of dollars in investment and trade. In 2007 alone, CIFIT saw over US$20 billion in foreign capital invested in China, and over US$550 million invested by Chinese companies abroad. This year there is to be a large Australian Pavilion, providing the opportunity for the largest Australian participation ever. Full details are available at http://www.cifit-australia-pavilion.com/index.html. Given that there has been Tasmanian participation at the event previously and that Fujian Province is the sister province of Tasmania the Department is seeking expression of interest from Tasmanian enterprises that may wish to participate. Interested enterprises are requested to contact Kim McShane, kim.mcshane@development.tas.gov.au
Australia and Chile Conclude Free Trade Agreement
Australia and Chile have concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement, Australia’s fifth agreement and the first with a Latin American country. This new agreement will deliver new trade and investment opportunities to Australia and will be an important milestone in our growing engagement with the wider Latin American market. Tariffs will be eliminated on 97 per cent of existing merchandise trade upon entry into force and 100 per cent of existing merchandise trade in each direction by 2015.
More information http://www.trademinister.gov.au/releases/2008/sc_040.html
A Tasmanian company is developing a completely natural anti-coagulant from seaweed harvested in local waters
Marinova Pty Ltd CEO Nick Falk believes there is potentially a huge market for the natural anti-coagulant product. Marinova, a Tasmanian based company, has used highly sophisticated techniques to extract the derivatives from seaweed, thereby providing an alternative to the synthetic drug heparin. Senator the Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Resources, said the derivatives, fucoidans, were being used in the treatment of wounds in clinical trials. Mr Carr has highlighted Marinova's work at the recent BIO 2008 conference in San Diego.
He said the seaweed derivatives had some advantages over heparin. "The difference is that according to Marinova there are no safety issues with fucoidans and the source can be traced to actual plots at the sea bottom, making the product entirely organic a growing market for people who want to use completely natural rather than synthetic medical products," said Mr Carr.
Further trials of the product were being done to look at the therapeutic effects in the immune and anti-inflammatory conditions. Mr Carr said the company had developed a range of high and low molecular-weight fucoidan fractions and was able to characterise these molecules to meet regulatory standards for medical device and pharmaceutical use. "Marinova is also able to modulate the efficacy of fucoidans to individual medical applications," he said.
Mr Falk said fucoidans had the potential to replace heparin across a wide range of indications. "Here we have a completely natural, traceable, heparin alternative that has no toxicity problems and is not synthetic. This is potentially a huge market" he said. Mr Falk also attended BIO 2008.
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,23882801-3462,00.html
Future Macroeconomic Trends for the UK
In recent months Austrade London have focussed on identifying the key macroeconomic trends that will impact the UK in the coming months and years. One of the most significant of these trends is 'Green', in all its various forms - from 'green miles' to carbon neutral buildings. Attached are several briefs on ’green marketing’ issues which the London office has produced. Naturally, there are various implications for Australians doing business or seeking to do business in the UK and the attached paper aims to provide a brief overview of the key issues and opportunities.
Many of the issues raised in this paper are not necessarily UK-specific so hopefully it has broader applicability.
CSR - What it means for Australian exporters
Green matters - how green do i need to be
Testing times for boating simulator
Work is progressing in northern Tasmania on a computer simulator that behaves like a small boat. More than 50,000 Tasmanians use a boat, and the simulator aims to help prevent accidents. (ABC News: Jacqui Street)
Pivot Marine at Legana has received a Federal Government grant to produce boat simulators, so that new boat owners can learn about the hazards of the water.
The program designer, Dr Jeffrey Hawkins says he is still refining the software but hopes to have simulators on the market in three years.
"In the end we're going to have a simulator which is ideal for people in small boats, so they can learn the skills before they get out on the water," he said.
"They can learn about how to manoeuvre the vessel before they actually have to do it."
Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) hopes to one day use computer simulators to help test for a boat licence. MAST Chief Executive, Colin Finch believes many boat owners don't understand how dangerous rough weather can be.
"The first time you might be out in rough conditions it might be everything starts to go wrong and you don't know what to do," said Mr Finch.
"Whereas if you've got some experience under your belt, even on a simulator you'll have a clear process in your mind of 'what do I do next? how do I handle these conditions? what's my next steps, what's my plan?" he said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/19/2248496.htm
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd recently travelled to Tokyo to buy a bag of Tasmanian Green Eye onions from Webster Fresh.
Kevin Rudd and his wife stopped off at a local Aeon supermarket on their way to see the Japanese Prime Minister and Emperor to buy something suitable as a gift. Hearing that the best onions in the world were on sale at Aeon the PM and his entourage pulled in and bought a bag for the emperor who is known to be partial to the vegetable.
Sales of Tasmanian Green Eye onions are expected to soar after the endorsement from the leaders of Japan and Australia!
Export and Market Development is holding introductory workshops in Launceston and Hobart in August 2008. Titled Do You Want to Export?, these introductory-level workshops are targeted at businesses interested in exporting. For those companies that expect to include exporting in their business plan or have ever thought of marketing their product overseas, these free workshops would be valuable to attend. The workshops will explore a company’s ability and desire for exporting.
The workshops cover the following topics:
Dates and locations:
Hobart - 13 August 2008
Technopark, Glenorchy
For further information on this seminar contact Martin Turmine on (03) 62335795 or email Martin.Turmine@development.tas.gov.au.
Launceston - 29 August 2008
Tram Shed Function Centre, Inveresk
For further information on this seminar contact Caleb Wright on (03) 6336 2263 or email caleb.wright@development.tas.gov.au.
Export and Market Development will facilitate a two-day Export Practices workshop delivered by The Australian Institute of Export on 18-19 November 2008, in Launceston. The workshop will examine in detail the principles of export documentation, international law, marine insurance and banking and finance.
A lot of very useful, practical information about export documentation will be provided by industry experts over the two-day session.
If you are interested to know more about this workshop or to register for this workshop, please contact Caleb Wright on (03) 6336 2263 or email caleb.wright@development.tas.gov.au.
The Employer of Choice Conference
Wednesday 6 August 2008 Launceston
The Employer of Choice Conference will help Tasmanian businesses understand and respond to an increasingly competitive labour market. This conference is a ‘must-attend’ event for businesses seeking to attract and retain skilled workers.
To register go to www.development.tas.gov.au/employerofchoice/conference
For more information, contact Business Point on 1800 440 026 or email businesspoint@development.tas.gov.au
Sponsorship and display space opportunities are still available for the conference. Please contact Phil Holmes at Convention Wise on 6234 1424 or mail@conventionwise.com.au
For further details please visit:
Japanese Media Releases
Recent and current Japanese media releases issued to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism include:
TDED_Media_Report_16 May_08.pdf
TDED_Media_Report_20 June_08.pdf
TDED_Media_Report_23 May_08.pdf
TDED_Media_Report_27 June 08.pdf
TDED_Media_Report_6 June_08.pdf
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) travel advisories are the Australian Government’s advice to its citizens regarding the perceived travel risks and precautions that individuals should exercise. For further information please visit www.dfat.gov.au.
Australian Suppliers Directory
For information on Australian suppliers across all industry sectors, the Austrade Suppliers Directory provides a powerful search tool, to access the directory click on the link.
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Event |
Dates |
Contact |
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Australasian Aquaculture – Brisbane |
4-8 August 2008 |
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Do you want to Export – Hobart |
13 August 2008 |
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Do you want to Export Launceston |
29 August 2008 |
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Fine Food Melbourne |
22–25 September 2008 |
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Export Awards Presentation Night |
10 October 2008 |
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Export Practices |
18-19 November 2008 |
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Workboat New Orleans |
3-6 December 2008 |
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If you have any Export and Market Development queries please email George.Chambers@development.tas.gov.au or call 03 6233 5888. If you wish to subscribe to ExportActive please send an email to export@development.tas.gov.au with the words "ExportActive Newsletter Subscription" in the subject heading. If you no longer wish to receive ExportActive please send an email to export@development.tas.gov.au with the words "ExportActve Un-subscribe" in the subject heading. |
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