25 September 2008

Big win for Australian Engineers

“In Texas today, Engineers Australia signed a mutual recognition agreement with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers” the Minister for Trade, Simon Crean, said.

“Services contribute over 70 per cent of Australia’s economy but accounted for only 22 per cent of our exports in 2007.

“The Mortimer report highlights that the previous Government failed to broaden the composition of our export base, with the growth rate of services falling from 8.5 per cent in 2000 to 2 per cent in 2007.

“If we are to improve Australia’s export performance we need to build on our services strengths.

“This MRA will facilitate the export of Australian engineering services to Texas and I congratulate Engineers Australia on their achievement.

“The US is Australia's most important export market for services, worth $5.8 billion in 2007. Services make up over a third of our exports to the United States and this announcement will help drive further export growth”, Mr Crean said.

“I discussed progress on this mutual recognition agreement with my counterpart, United States Trade Representative, Susan Schwab during the Australia-US Ministerial Trade Talks (AUSMINTT) in June and I am pleased that it has now been signed,” he said.

The agreement will streamline mutual recognition of engineering qualifications and licensing arrangements in both countries. Suitably qualified Australian engineers can now be licensed by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers to provide engineering services on the basis of their Australian registration. Previously, Australian registered engineers were required to sit US exams before gaining licensure in Texas.

This decision lays the ground work for Australia to further engage with other US States and Territories to improve access for Australian engineers to the vast US engineering services market.

This is the first mutual recognition agreement between Engineers Australia and a US state, and a first for the engineering initiative under the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) Working Group on Professional Services.

“This MRA is the outcome of a joint effort by Engineers Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations”, Mr Crean said.

Media Inquiries: Mr Crean's office 02 6277 7420 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555