Introductory comments at Australian Mining Dinner

Thank you Nigel.

A few words if I may before we hear from our guest speaker Jorge Bande.

I just want to say thank you to all who have made our visit so pleasant over the past couple of days––among them:

Ambassador Conroy;
Trade Commissioner Nigel Warren;
AUSCHAM President Alejandro Palma;
Mr Alberto Van Klaveren, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs;
business representatives from both Australia and Chile;

Distinguished guests; Ladies and gentlemen

My visit to EXPOMIN was particularly informative, showing not only how vast is the mining industry worldwide, but impressing on me the large-scale input Australia has on the mining sphere globally. I noted that some 60 Australian firms have come to the EXPOMIN week, offering a huge range and quality of technology and services in the mining sector.

Jorge, will, no doubt, have much to tell us about the extraordinarily interesting Chilean mining scene. In that sector Australia and Chile ––and indeed the entire region––are likely to see closer collaboration in future.

But in many other sectors as well.

The new Australian Government is setting forth a wide range of new policies and programs designed to maximise Australia’s competitiveness; to expand Australia’s productivity and international export reach. These include technological innovation and initiatives connecting businesses to new ideas and new ways of doing new things that will impact on our trade in Latin America.

The three countries I am visiting on this trip, Chile, Argentina and Brazil, accounted last year for total two-way trade with Australia worth just under A$2.7 billion. Australia was 27th on Chile’s list of import sources; it was 27th on Argentina’s shopping list and 34th as an import source for Brazil. We want to ascend on those inventories and I’m delighted to report that there is much scope for advancement.

We will move forward aided by:

the talents of the senior executives of Australian companies in this audience this evening;
by many Australian companies in the pipeline for exporting to and investment in Latin America;
by the hard work of Australian and Chilean officials close to completing the negotiation of a high quality comprehensive FTA, which will significantly improve the structure for increased commercial action with Chile and will increase the attention of business not just on Chile but on other opportunities in this region
and by those enterprising South American businesses who wish to benefit from trade and investment in Australia.

I leave tomorrow morning on the next leg of my visit, taking with me wonderful memories and impressions of Chile and its people. And a great deal of optimism for the future.

Thank you.