Joint media release
Australian Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile and Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator Nick Minchin
July 25 2000
Ian Grigg completes special auto assignment
Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator Nick Minchin, and Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile, today announced that Ian Grigg, AM had completed his assignment as the Prime Minister's Special Automotive Envoy.
As Mr Grigg completes his assignment, the industry is in good shape, facing excellent prospects. Exports have grown 46% in the past three years - worth a record $3.2 billion in 1999, including 73,000 cars or 22% of total production - and tax reform has provided highly favourable conditions in the domestic market.
The Ministers said Mr Grigg brought to the Special Automotive Envoy position an extensive knowledge of the Australian automotive industry based on his many years as Chief Executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, as well as his strong international connections.
He made a major contribution to the development and implementation of the Automotive Market Access and Development Strategy. The recent "What's Up Down Under" exhibition of Australian automotive technology held at the Ford Technology Review Centre in Detroit, and led by Mr Grigg, was particularly successful.
Mr Grigg made several visits to the world's major automotive markets, spearheading representations to foreign governments and companies to promote the capabilities of Australian companies and to secure access for Australian products and services into international markets and global supply chains.
Mr Grigg also chairs the APEC Automotive Dialogue, a high-level government-industry forum focussed on addressing automotive issues of importance to Australia and the region. The Government has asked Mr Grigg to continue as Chair at the forum's next meeting in Bangkok in April 2001.
Contacts:
Vaile's office, Bruce Mills 02 6277 7420
Minchin's office, Carolyn Coleman 0409 438 680
Local Date: Thursday, 20-Nov-2008 20:46:35 EST