15 June 1995

CROSS-CULTURAL RELATIONS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF TRADE WITH ASIA - McMULLAN

The outcomes of a meeting of prominent business leaders, government officials and cross-cultural relations specialists in Canberra tomorrow will make a valuable contribution to Australia's trade efforts in the Asia-Pacific region, the Minister for Trade, Senator Bob McMullan, said today.

Senator McMullan said the seminar, 'Cross-Cultural Connections: Trading with Asia', will highlight the increasing importance of cross-cultural relations in doing business with Asia.

"Cultural issues are a vital element of the Government's commitment to building a Team Australia approach to strengthening trade relations, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region," Senator McMullan said.

"This approach embodies the spirit of Australians working together cooperatively to ensure success in overseas markets.

"But, to be fully effective, we must ensure delegations such as Ministerial Business Missions and private business visitors leave our shores comprehensively briefed on cross-cultural issues relevant to particular markets.

"Representatives of Government and business must be aware of - and sensitive to - cultural differences, at least to the extent where business operations could be influenced by non-commercial matters or communication methods that could lead to misunderstandings."

Senator McMullan said he expects tomorrow's meeting to produce guidelines for cross-cultural briefings (based on a business needs analysis); strategies for heightening business awareness of the value of cross-cultural briefings; and training recommendations for drawing upon the existing resources of the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio.

Organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in cooperation with Austrade and the Asia in Australia Council, the meeting will be chaired by Mr Rawdon Dalrymple, former Australian Ambassador to Japan, the United States and Indonesia, and will be held in Parliament House, Canberra.

Further information:

Senator McMullan's office: John Flannery, (06) 277 7420

For full details of the 'Cross-Cultural Connections: Trading with Asia' meeting, please contact Pera Wells, DFAT, (06) 261 3808.