Business Club Australia – M2006

The Australian Government has announced funding of $0.8 million for Business Club Australia – M2006.

The Club, run by Austrade in partnership with Invest Australia, will deliver international business opportunities for Australian companies in the lead up to and during the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

The XVIII Commonwealth Games will be hosted by Melbourne from 15 March to 26 March 2006. The Commonwealth Games Foundation anticipate that all 72 Commonwealth countries will be represented, with 4,500 athletes participating.

The 2006 Commonwealth Games provides a platform to showcase Australian capability and facilitate international business opportunities for Australian companies.

Through Business Club Australia – M2006, industry and country themed networking events will provide for direct matching of Australian companies with international visitors, many of whom will be combining business with their pursuit of sporting interests.

Key elements of the initiative include:

national branding and promotion under the name “Business Club Australia – M2006”;
events and activities in Australia and overseas to facilitate business networking, promote Australia as a trade and investment partner, and enhance community awareness of the importance of trade and international business;
identification of international business visitors for an intense business matching programme;
targeting international business media attending the games to help ensure that Australia’s business credentials receive positive media exposure; and
an on-line business matching service designed to facilitate and maximise business outcomes.

The credibility and impact of the programme will be enhanced by the involvement of high-profile participants from previous Commonwealth and Olympic Games who have successfully built commercial careers.

Membership of Business Club Australia M2006 will be free and will be open to Australian and international companies.

Media contact: Matthew Doman (Minister's Office) + 61 2 6277 7420 or Jemima Lohse (Austrade) +61 2 9390 2703