Minister to lead Qld’s biggest construction trade mission to Middle East

Minister for Trade John Mickel will lead Queensland’s largest ever construction and infrastructure-focused trade mission to the Middle East.

Thirty-eight representatives from 24 Queensland businesses will travel across Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from 16 November in a bid to increase Queensland’s rapidly growing export.

Mr Mickel said ABS statistics show Queensland’s exports industry have increased by over 80 per cent in the first three months of 2008/09.

“This mission will go a long way toward improving these figures and creating a stronger Queensland economy,” Mr Mickel said.

“This Middle East trade mission will also, for the first time, include a visit by eighteen of these Queensland company representatives to Saudi Arabia from 16 November.

Mr Mickel, who will be assisted on the mission by Queensland’s Special Representative to the Middle East, Loftus Harris, said that Trade Queensland had identified strong opportunities in the Middle East for the State’s construction businesses to supply advanced and environmentally-friendly building products and services.

“Despite the current global economic downturn, the list of large-scale construction projects in the Middle East and North Africa keeps growing, and work continues,” Mr Mickel said.

“Increasing Queensland’s participation in these big-budget construction projects will not only benefit Middle East project partners, but will also help to insulate our State from global economic fallout.

“The value of projects on the books in Gulf Co-operation Council nations in September 2008 was in the order of US$2.17 trillion, an increase of 44 per cent from last year.

“This significant growth confirms the Middle East’s status as a key export market for Queensland. I am leading this mission to make sure key players in Middle East construction are left in no doubt about the Queensland Government’s support for our world-class industries and their mutually valuable participation in the region’s construction projects.

“Importantly, the mission will enable participating businesses to attend Dubai’s BIG 5 Construction Exhibition, the Middle East’s largest and best attended construction trade show.”

Mr Mickel and other members of the mission will also meet with His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Prince of Saudi Arabia as well as holding talks with United Arab Emirates Government officials.

The Minister said the mission would highlight Queensland’s trade commitment to the Middle East, which was advanced by the signing of a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) earlier this month to encourage collaboration between Queensland and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to promote and advance the economic, social and infrastructure development of both states.

Media contact for Minister Mickel: Jane Rowe 3237 1125 or David Robertson 3235 4060

16 November 2008