QUEENSLAND ARCHITECTS SHAPE UP IN MIDDLE EAST MARKET

As part of his current trade mission to the Middle East, Minister for Trade John Mickel officially opened the new office of a prominent Queensland architectural firm, Thomson Adsett Architects.

Located in Dubai, the office will allow Thomson Adsett Architects to provide better service locally and capitalise on burgeoning construction opportunities, particularly in the region’s health and aged care sectors.

Minister Mickel said that Thomson Adsett Architects had already built a strong international reputation specialising in health-related buildings around the world and that the new office will strengthen this reputation and build on international trade relations between the two regions.

“The office is a partnership between Thomson Adsett and another Australian company, Health Projects International Pty Ltd (HPI) and bears the name Total Alliance Health Partners International Pty Ltd (TAHPI),” Mr Mickel said. 

“The two companies joined forces to maximise their export potential in providing facility planning and design services to the region’s rapidly expanding health and aged care industries.

“The office is based in Dubai’s Healthcare City and will start out with one staff member relocated from Australia, but with a number of tenders recently submitted by the two companies this is likely to increase quickly.

“Work is already underway on the first project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for the Thomson Adsett partnership.

“This project is, a partnership with Palmer & Turner Architects & Engineers Ltd, providing master planning for the Al Wasl Hospital expansion which will double the hospital’s capacity to 800 beds.

“It is also anticipated that Thomson Adsett’s Queensland offices will need another 10 to 20 staff over the next 5 years to help meet the needs of the business’ expansion into new markets, particularly in the UAE.

“I congratulate Thomson Adsett on its success and growth, and wish the company well as they compete for further business in this fast-growing region. I look forward to hearing more of the company’s successes in the Middle East,” Mr Mickel said.

Thomson Adsett Architects are part of a delegation of 38 representatives from 24 Queensland companies led by Minister Mickel to attend the BIG 5 construction trade show in Dubai.

Mr Mickel cited the office opening as an example of an innovative strategy being employed by a home grown Queensland company to better access business opportunities in the United Arab Emirates.

25 November 2008

Minister Mickel’s office contact : Jane Rowe +61 7 3237 1125