QUEENSLAND GETS MAJOR BILLING AT INVITE ONLY FORBES EVENT

Published Thursday, 10 May, 2007 at 12:32 PM

Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel

NEW YORK: Queensland will be a hot topic of conversation at tonight’s invitation only dinner at the prestigious Forbes Galleries in New York.

Minister for State Development John Mickel said the evening, hosted by Forbes Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Steve Forbes, would celebrate Queensland in the latest North American and Asian editions of the world’s leading business magazine.

“Forbes has a readership of some 4.6 million the world over – and this particular issue is a special flagship edition titled “Big Issue Networks” to coincide with the magazine’s 90th anniversary,” he said.

“This issue will bring together some of the world’s greatest writers, leaders and thinkers – it’s certain to be viewed as an ongoing reference source and it’s exciting to think Queensland will be a part of that.”

Mr Mickel said the Queensland Government’s investment attraction arm, Invest Queensland, was proving a formidable competitor in the international marketplace as it worked to bring major business operations to Australia’s fastest growing economy.

“In the past year alone Invest Queensland has been responsible for attracting 18 projects to the State resulting in the creation of 1108 new jobs and $902 million in capital expenditure,” Mr Mickel said.

“More and more international companies are realising the benefits of doing business in Queensland. Our economy has consistently outperformed the rest of Australia for 10 years and it’s now bigger than the economies of countries like New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia.

“We’re very proactive in attracting major players in the industries of the future like biotechnology, information and communications technology, creative industries, aviation and aerospace, as well as building on our expertise in areas such as manufacturing, marine and food processing.

“These industries we know will play an important role in positioning Queensland as a global economic force.”

Mr Mickel said Queensland was now well underway with stage two of its Smart State Strategy.

“Positioning Queensland as Australia’s Smart State is about ensuring we develop an economy that rewards knowledge, innovation and technology – these are the qualities that will ensure our industries remain globally competitive and set us apart as not only a fantastic place to live but also as a fantastic place to do business,” he said.

Mr Mickel said Invest Queensland had advertised in the magazine alongside Invest Australia and the New South Wales Government Department of State and Regional Development.

“Forbes Magazine is held in high regard the world over. This is a unique opportunity to extol Queensland’s unique virtues as an investment destination to the movers and shakers of the world’s business community,” he said.

“I have no doubt it will prove an incredibly wise investment.”

The Forbes North American edition has a fortnightly circulation of 925,800 and Forbes Asia a circulation of 80,000.

Mr Mickel is currently on a trade mission to the US and Hong Kong, which included attendance at the world’s premier biotechnology conference BIO2007 in Boston earlier this month.

Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.

10 May, 2007