Qld trade experts generate marble-ous opportunity for Cairns business
Published Thursday, 20 December, 2007 at 01:00 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Local business Cairns Marble Australia has a quarter-of-a-million dollar foot in the door to the lucrative Middle East market with the help of the Queensland Government's trade experts.
The family-owned and operated miner and manufacturer has won a $250,000 contract to supply 25 full container loads of Chillagoe marble to a major Saudi Arabian company.
The breakthrough comes after Cairns Marble joined a Queensland Government trade mission to the Middle East just a fortnight ago.
A Saudi company representative is also due to visit Cairns in the New Year 2008 to discuss further business opportunities with the North Queensland company.
In Cairns today to host a series of industry consultations, Trade Minister John Mickel today said Cairns Marble's success proved the value of Queensland's international trade network.
“This is a fabulous success story,” Mr Mickel said.
“It’s always fantastic to see our local companies recognised internationally for their quality products.
“The Middle East is a burgeoning market for Queensland’s goods and services.
“The on-the-ground support provided by our Trade Queensland offices in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh is delivering real results for Queensland companies looking to break into the Middle East export market."
The Middle Eastern offices are among 10 Queensland Government trade and investment offices and representatives in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Guangzhou, China.
Mr Mickel said Cairns Marble was one of three companies that joined the Queensland Government-led North Queensland Trade Mission to the Middle East from 24 November to 8 December.
The company exhibited its products at the Big 5 Construction and Infrastructure Expo in Dubai before attending a series of one-on-one meetings with prospective customers organised by Trade Queensland.
Cairns Marble Australia general manager Dino Spralja said although it was still early days, the outlook for increased trade in the region was very promising.
“There’s great potential for our marble and for construction companies in the future,” he said.
Mr Spralja said he was very pleased with contacts he was able to make on the trade mission, which led to this first export deal.
“The trade mission was very helpful, particularly the one-on-one meetings that were set up for us by the Trade Queensland offices. It put me in touch with the right people from the very beginning.
“The Big 5 Expo was very interesting too – people didn’t know marble even existed in Australia.
Established in 1989, mines, manufactures, exports and retails a range of marble products.
The company sources raw marble materials from its extensive leases in Chillagoe, North Queensland and the Pilbara Region of Western Australia.
Company media contact: Dino Spralja, managing director, Cairns Marble Australia - 4035 2211
Media contact: Nathan Moir 3235 4060 or Shannon Mackay 3237 1125
December 20, 2007
The family-owned and operated miner and manufacturer has won a $250,000 contract to supply 25 full container loads of Chillagoe marble to a major Saudi Arabian company.
The breakthrough comes after Cairns Marble joined a Queensland Government trade mission to the Middle East just a fortnight ago.
A Saudi company representative is also due to visit Cairns in the New Year 2008 to discuss further business opportunities with the North Queensland company.
In Cairns today to host a series of industry consultations, Trade Minister John Mickel today said Cairns Marble's success proved the value of Queensland's international trade network.
“This is a fabulous success story,” Mr Mickel said.
“It’s always fantastic to see our local companies recognised internationally for their quality products.
“The Middle East is a burgeoning market for Queensland’s goods and services.
“The on-the-ground support provided by our Trade Queensland offices in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh is delivering real results for Queensland companies looking to break into the Middle East export market."
The Middle Eastern offices are among 10 Queensland Government trade and investment offices and representatives in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Guangzhou, China.
Mr Mickel said Cairns Marble was one of three companies that joined the Queensland Government-led North Queensland Trade Mission to the Middle East from 24 November to 8 December.
The company exhibited its products at the Big 5 Construction and Infrastructure Expo in Dubai before attending a series of one-on-one meetings with prospective customers organised by Trade Queensland.
Cairns Marble Australia general manager Dino Spralja said although it was still early days, the outlook for increased trade in the region was very promising.
“There’s great potential for our marble and for construction companies in the future,” he said.
Mr Spralja said he was very pleased with contacts he was able to make on the trade mission, which led to this first export deal.
“The trade mission was very helpful, particularly the one-on-one meetings that were set up for us by the Trade Queensland offices. It put me in touch with the right people from the very beginning.
“The Big 5 Expo was very interesting too – people didn’t know marble even existed in Australia.
Established in 1989, mines, manufactures, exports and retails a range of marble products.
The company sources raw marble materials from its extensive leases in Chillagoe, North Queensland and the Pilbara Region of Western Australia.
Company media contact: Dino Spralja, managing director, Cairns Marble Australia - 4035 2211
Media contact: Nathan Moir 3235 4060 or Shannon Mackay 3237 1125
December 20, 2007