Trade critical for jobs and growth
Media release
16 July 2010
In an address to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's General Council meeting in Adelaide today, Mr Byrne said exports were critical to growth and employment.
“International trade is vital for our nation's prosperity, with one in five Australians directly employed because of exports or imports” Mr Byrne told the meeting.
Mr Byrne praised ACCI on bringing an extremely effective voice to Canberra on behalf of its members.
“ACCI operates as a pulse point for businesses in Australia and is an important advocacy group for businesses both domestically and overseas.” Mr Byrne said.
“The Australian Government believes in the power of trade to create growth and jobs, and supports Australian business in getting that trade,” Mr Byrne told the meeting.
Australia's economy had performed better than most during the recent upheavals in the global economy, but Mr Byrne noted the global economy was still recovering and exports were critical.
Mr Byrne also spoke of the need to finalise the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization, and the importance of our increasing number of bilateral and regional FTAs.
Australia's sixth Free Trade Agreement, the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, was an important building block, he said.
The AANZFTA, which began on January 1, 2010, will create a market of 600 million people in a single market with a combined GDP of A$3.2 trillion.
Mr Byrne noted that ACCI had made important contributions to the national economy and Australia's business successes over the last century.
Media contact
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