| MEDIA RELEASE
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR TRADE |  |
SAUDI ARABIAN MINISTER IN CANBERRA FOR TRADE TALKS
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Mr Tim Fischer, will co-chair with the Saudi Arabian Minister for Commerce, HE Mr Osama Jaffar Faqeih, the seventh meeting of the Australia - Saudi Arabia Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Canberra on 17 October 1996.
With imports from Australia approaching $375 million in 1995, Saudi Arabia ranks as Australia's second largest market in the Middle East. The JMC meeting will provide an umbrella for the further development of trade between Australia and Saudi Arabia. Participation by the private sector in the JMC allows significant and valuable commercial input into discussions with the Saudi Arabians on trade policy issues, as well as providing the private sector representatives with opportunities to build commercial contacts.
The Australian delegation to the JMC will include business representatives from a wide range of industry in Australia.
Discussions will take place in four committees (a. Economic, Trade and Investment; b. Minerals, Petroleum, Energy and Environment; c. Technology, Training, Education, Transport and Communications; and, d. Business).
Mr Faqeih, who is leading a 56 member delegation, is visiting Australia as a guest of the Australian Government. Before arriving in Canberra, Mr Faqeih will visit Western Australia and Victoria where he will hold talks with State Government Ministers and business representatives. After leaving Canberra he will visit Sydney.
Mr Fischer and Mr Faqeih will hold a joint media conference at Old Parliament House, the venue for the JMC, at 1645 on 17 October 1996 to announce the outcomes of the JMC. Media representatives are invited to attend.