Germany-Australia SUMMIT

Europe Business Review, Oct-Dec, 1999

The 1999 Australia-Germany business summit is to be held in Brisbane, October 29-31.

The economic and trade relationship between Australia and Germany has been expanding rapidly. In the last year alone German direct investment in Australia almost doubled and two-way trade in 1998 grew by over 25 percent to A$7.3 billion.

Australia's credentials as a cost-competitive, stable Asia-Pacific location in which to do business are recognised by German firms.

Australian firms are increasingly attracted to trade and investing with Germany, one of the world's largest markets (pop.80 million).

The Brisbane conference, entitled "Strengthening the Partnership beyond 2000", is the most important event in the Australia-Germany business calendar this year.

The conference is being organised by the Australian German Association in conjunction with the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Australien-Neuseeland Verein.

Key business leaders from Australia and Germany will discuss and examine market opportunities and developments in both countries in strategically important sectors such as banking and finance, minerals and energy, information technology, communications, biotechnology, and media.

Hugh Morgan, President of the Australian German Association, and chief executive of Western Mining Corporation, says the biennial conference has become the prime forum for government leaders, business executives and industry experts from Germany and Australia to exchange views and to further develop their mutual interests.

In its 25th anniversary year the Australian German Association is again convening the conference, in cooperation with partner organisations in both countries, the Australien-Neuseeland Verein and the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Mr Morgan says "In recent years the Australian-German economic relationship has taken on a new impetus. Australia's strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region and Germany's central role in a rapidly integrating Europe are becoming strong drawcards for business.

"Australia has been able to show enviable economic growth despite severe downturns in its region, while Germany continues to be the economic centrepiece of one of the world's largest markets," he says.

In the next 12 months there will be increased contacts between Australia and Germany as a result of Sydney's hosting of the Olympic Games and Hannover becoming the destination for an expected 40 million people visiting Expo 2000. Australia will have a major pavilion at the Expo.

The launch of the book "Australia-Germany Advancing Global Enterprise" will be presented by Achim Drescher, Managing Director, Columbus Line Australia, and Steven Rich, chairman of Focus Publishing, Sydney.

The banking and finance session will address globalisation. The impact of the Euro on trade and investment, the effects of the Asian financial crisis, global financial regulation, and the implications of mergers in the sector are all on the agenda.

The potential of Sydney as a regional financial centre - also the subject of a recent major Australia-US conference in NewYork - will also be considered.

The banking and finance session will be led by John B Gough, President, German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Speakers will include

Frank Cicutto, Chief Executive Officer of the National Australia Bank, members of the Board of Managing Directors of Deutsche Bank, Gerd Hausler, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Executive Board of the Dresdner Bank.

The minerals and energy session will cover future German energy, associated environmental policies and new developments in the German coal regime.

The direction of future technologies and the role German companies may take in Australian minerals and energy developments will also be discussed.

Australian views about the future of mining and exploration, the effects of efficiency gains, the increasing importance of gas in the energy mix, further investment in resources infrastructure and the management of environmental issues will all be presented.

The minerals-energy session will be led by John Taylor, Managing Director, Lurgi (Australia). Speakers will include.

Nick Stump, Chief Executive, MIM Holdings, Dr Ingo Batzel, Director for Mineral Purchasing of Thyssen-Krupp, Ross Adler, Managing director of Santos Limited, Dr Busso Peus, Member of the Executive Board of Hochtief Construction.

The tax reform session will start from the fact that in the face of globalisation, business and personal tax regimes are of central importance to international competitiveness and investment location.

The Australian tax system is undergoing major change and there is also considerable debate in Germany about the need for taxation change. Speakers will address the current situation in both taxation systems.

In the session will be on tax reform the main speakers will be Dr Klaus Albrecht, Vice Chairman, Deutsche Bank Australia, John Harvey Senior Partner, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, a second German executive, to be named.