Media release
Thursday 19 September 2002 - MVT113/2002
The New Camry to Drive Australia's Car Exports
Trade Minister Mark Vaile told a gathering at Melbourne's Webb Dock
today the car industry, particularly Toyota Australia, was making
a big contribution to Australia's exports.
Mr Vaile was attending a ceremony to mark the loading of the first
exports of the new 2002 Toyota Camry bound for the Middle East.
"Automotive exports were worth more than $4.9 billion in 2001-02
- $3.2 billion for vehicles and $1.7 billion for components," Mr Vaile
said.
"In the last four years, exports of automotive products have doubled
in value from $2.5 billion (1997-98) to $4.95 billion (2001-02) and
are Australia's largest manufactured export. The industry is now
well on track to achieve its export target of $6 billion by 2005.
"Toyota Australia has helped build our presence in the Middle East
with the Australian-built Camry the biggest selling passenger motor
vehicle in Saudi Arabia. Almost 60 per cent of all Australian vehicle
exports, worth $1.8 billion, were exported to the Middle East in 2001-02."
Mr Vaile said automotive exports were providing the growth necessary
to achieve internationally competitive levels of production and as
such it was important for the car industry to expand existing markets
and develop new ones.
"The Government is working hard with industry to improve market access.
Opening global trade for automotive products is one of Australia's
priorities in the new round of World Trade Organisation negotiations
launched in Doha last year," Mr Vaile said.
"The Government is also promoting access by negotiating bilateral
free trade agreements. Negotiations have begun with Thailand and
we will be looking for a good outcome for the automotive sector from
those negotiations."
Media Contact: Mark Croxford +61 02 6277 7420
Local Date:
Friday, 05-Dec-2008 14:03:22 EST
