TALKS PROMOTE SMART STATE EDUCATION AND BUSINESS LINKS
Published Wednesday, 08 November, 2006 at 11:52 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
SAUDI ARABIA: Education and business links with the Smart State were two of the big ticket items in talks between Premier and Minister for Trade Peter Beattie and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the Governor of Riyadh and brother of His Royal Highness King Abdullah. The Prince visited Brisbane and met the Premier in 2000.
With this booming Saudi city’s population projected to double to about 8.9 million people by 2020, Mr Beattie used the meeting to promote Queensland’s leadership in education, building, design and construction industries.
“From designing buildings and developing smart technology, to delivering quality university programs, Queensland’s public and private sectors are in a top position to help build Riyadh’s future,” Mr Beattie said.
“Being Australia’s first state or territory to appoint a trade representative in the country will make tapping into these opportunities much easier.”
Saudi Arabia is a major market for Queensland, with merchandise exports valued at AUS $73.7 million* in 2005-06. Queensland is also a big market for Saudi with imports – mostly fuels and related materials – valued at over AUS $205.6 million*.
Mr Beattie said diversifying Queensland’s export base was a key to sustained growth, and education was a prime example.
“Saudi enrolments in Australia have grown 100% annually between 2002 and 2005, with Queensland snaring 34% of the national share,” he said.
“After the US, Australia is the most popular tertiary destination for Saudi students and Queensland can play an even bigger role as Saudi addresses head-on the need to prepare its next generation of professionals.”
Image available by clicking on the below link. Caption: Saudi Arabia: Premier Peter Beattie discusses Queensland trade opportunities with the Governor of Riyadh His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/library/images/PrinceSalmanBinAbdulazizAlSaud.JPG
Media Contact: Premier’s Office – 07 3224 4500.
* Provisional ABS figures
His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the Governor of Riyadh and brother of His Royal Highness King Abdullah. The Prince visited Brisbane and met the Premier in 2000.
With this booming Saudi city’s population projected to double to about 8.9 million people by 2020, Mr Beattie used the meeting to promote Queensland’s leadership in education, building, design and construction industries.
“From designing buildings and developing smart technology, to delivering quality university programs, Queensland’s public and private sectors are in a top position to help build Riyadh’s future,” Mr Beattie said.
“Being Australia’s first state or territory to appoint a trade representative in the country will make tapping into these opportunities much easier.”
Saudi Arabia is a major market for Queensland, with merchandise exports valued at AUS $73.7 million* in 2005-06. Queensland is also a big market for Saudi with imports – mostly fuels and related materials – valued at over AUS $205.6 million*.
Mr Beattie said diversifying Queensland’s export base was a key to sustained growth, and education was a prime example.
“Saudi enrolments in Australia have grown 100% annually between 2002 and 2005, with Queensland snaring 34% of the national share,” he said.
“After the US, Australia is the most popular tertiary destination for Saudi students and Queensland can play an even bigger role as Saudi addresses head-on the need to prepare its next generation of professionals.”
Image available by clicking on the below link. Caption: Saudi Arabia: Premier Peter Beattie discusses Queensland trade opportunities with the Governor of Riyadh His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/library/images/PrinceSalmanBinAbdulazizAlSaud.JPG
Media Contact: Premier’s Office – 07 3224 4500.
* Provisional ABS figures