Media Release
13 July 2009
Trade 2020 to Provide New Vision for Australia's Global Engagement
Minister for Trade Simon Crean, today announced Trade 2020-a new series of high-level forums that will generate ideas and vision for Australia's ongoing commercial engagement with the world.
In the midst of the deepest global slowdown since the Great Depression, the Federal Government is committed to helping Australian companies seize market share and position themselves to take advantage of the recovery.
"Trade 2020 will bring together leaders from business, government and academia, and provide an important forum to canvass opinion and generate ideas that will help to address these issues as well as develop a broader vision for Australia as an internationally competitive nation," Mr Crean said.
"These forums will explore critical themes to better position Australia for success in the global markets-global supply chains, innovation, investment, climate change and finance.
"The global economic crisis - including the dangers of a return to protectionism - together with the challenge of climate change and the resulting global opportunities, means that we need to continually review and reassess our approach to Australia's international commercial engagement," Mr Crean said.
Trade 2020 opens in Melbourne on Wednesday 26 August, followed by strategic dialogues in capital cities, and concludes in Canberra on 18 November.
Since coming to office the Australian Government has worked hard to improve market access abroad and to lift the international competitiveness of our industries at home.
"As a nation of 22 million, our domestic economy alone cannot sustain our national prosperity. Australia must expand its integration with the global economy if we want to continue to generate wealth and safeguard jobs into the future," Mr Crean said.
Speakers at the opening conference include: Chair of the Globalization Initiative Dr Robert J Shapiro, education expert Professor Denise Bradley, industry consultant Dr Terry Cutler, business commentators Narelle Kennedy and Phil Ruthven and economists Professor Gary Sampson, Roger Donnelly and Tim Harcourt.
Trade 2020 is being jointly organised by Austrade and the Committee for Economic Development (CEDA), and supported by Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC). For more information, visit Austrade
Media Inquiries
- Mr Crean’s Office 02 6277 7420
- Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555