Asia Week gains backing of Carr - Bob Carr

Business Asia, May 31, 1999

New South Wales Premier Mr Bob Cart has thrown his support behind Sydney Asia Week, a new Business Asia initiative designed to promote Australia-Asia ties.

Mr Carr, who will be the keynote speaker at Asia Week's debut on September 16 at a dinner at the Powerhouse Museum, said New South Wales was more orientated towards Asia than ever before.

He said initiatives such as Asia Week were an important way of building relationships throughout the region.

"Increasing our involvement with our Asian neighbours gives us a greater sense of our place in the world," Mr Carr said.

"Over the next four years, my government will continue to seek out and create opportunities to engage with Asia.

"Eight of our top 10 export destinations for NSW are Asia-Pacific countries and we will continue our efforts to ensure NSW offers an internationally competitive operating environment for companies in the Asia-Pacific region."

Sydney Asia Week will support Carnivale's Asia Festival at Darling Harbour in Sydney on September 18 and 19.

As part of the celebrations, Business Asia will host a special conference on September 16 aimed at giving business executives an opportunity to network and foster a sense of community between Australia and Asia.

The talks will feature high-profile speakers from the Asian business community.

Topics will include multiculturalism in the media, Asia in the year 2010, Asian influences on Australian fashion, and crossing cultural boundaries.

Business Asia publisher Mr Peter Charlton said the launch of Asia Week was part of the magazine's ongoing commitment to improve business and cultural ties between Asia-Pacific nations.

"Yes, Australian exporters are diversifying into strong European and American markets, but our trade ties with Asia will continue to be imperative to the respective futures of Australia and Asia," Mr Charlton said. "Asia Week is a reaffirmation of the bond that exists between Australia and Asia."

Business Asia editor Mr Cameron Cooper said the September 16 conference would be a timely opportunity for the public to get an update on Asia's recovery.

"The region has been doing it tough, but the signs of recovery are strong," he said. "Perhaps too often the media has concentrated on the negatives surrounding Asia's downturn.

"This conference will draw on the experience of experts to paint a clearer picture of the business and social environment in Asia."

Premier Carr said NSW's priorities in its engagement with Asia would centre on attracting investments and boosting exports,

"We'll achieve that by marketing the State of NSW internationally, facilitating technology take-up, R&D and innovation, and providing world-class education and training," he said.