Trade Minister to push Australian interests in Europe and Africa
Media release
24 January 2010
Trade Minister Simon Crean leaves today for a trip to the United Kingdom, Switzerland and South Africa to advocate for Australian trade and strategic interests at a time when there are growing signs the world economy is emerging from recession.
Mr Crean will be the Australian Government representative at Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum. At the forum he will speak on the importance of concluding the Doha Round, the Government’s initiative of an Asia-Pacific Community and strengthening the global economic system
“With early signs of stabilisation in the world economy, coordinated global and regional action remains vital to ensuring that a sustainable recovery has taken hold – international trade is a critical part of that response,” Mr Crean said.
Mr Crean will also attend an informal meeting of trade ministers being hosted by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Doris Leuthard in Davos. This will be the first opportunity for a Ministerial-level discussion of the WTO Doha Round this year after world leaders last year set a 2010 deadline for concluding the Round.
“Ministers need to commit to move beyond the aspirational statements and tackle the hard issues in order to conclude the Doha Round this year,” Mr Crean said.
On his way to Switzerland, Mr Crean will stopover in London to discuss international trade negotiations with senior UK political colleagues, including The Rt Hon Lord Peter Mandelson, First Secretary of State in the British Government and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills.
Mr Crean will also visit the site of the 2012 London Olympics where Australian Company Lend-Lease is the lead developer of the athletes’ village. . Mr Crean’s visit to South Africa will include Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria. In Cape Town, Mr Crean will represent Australia at the Mining Indaba Conference, Africa’s largest annual event for the mining and resource sector.
“This will be my first visit as Trade Minister, and reflects the importance Australia places on South Africa as our largest trading partner in the continent, Mr Crean said.
Mr Crean will visit the Green Point football stadium in Cape Town, which will be a major venue for the Football World Cup in June. Australia has launched a bid to host the Football World Cup in 2018 or 2022.
Media inquiries
- Mr Crean’s Office: (02) 6277 7420
- Departmental Media Liason: (02) 6261 1555