Architecture firm in partnership for export success in the Middle East

Queensland based architecture company Thomson Adsett Architects is succeeding in forming new partnerships to seek opportunities in the highly competitive Middle East construction industry.

Total Alliance Health Partners International (TAHPI), a partnership which includes Thomson Adsett Architects, signed a memorandum of understanding last week with the Australian arm of major international construction company, Laing O’Rourke, at a Middle East Export Network Forum organised by Trade Queensland.

Trade Minister John Mickel said Trade Queensland had played an important role in the formation of the partnership.

Thomson Adsett Architects is headquartered in Brisbane and has regional offices on the Gold Coast, in Cairns and in Rockhampton,

“Trade Queensland holds regular Middle East Export Network Forums, and organises regular trade missions to encourage the State’s exporting companies to investigate partnering opportunities in Middle East construction and infrastructure projects,” Mr Mickel said.

“Laing O'Rourke is one of the biggest players in construction globally and is currently undertaking a number of major projects in the Middle East,” Mr Mickel said.

“TAHPI already has a strong presence in the Middle East through its office in Dubai which I opened on a recent trade mission.

“The partnership has an established international reputation particularly for the quality of its hospital and health-related building designs.

“TAHPI’s projects will primarily be in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, but the local outcome will be a financial benefit and jobs for Queenslanders.

“The companys 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,” Mr Mickel said.

Thomson Adsett’s Business Development Manager, Judy Martin, said Trade Queensland’s assistance was proving highly valuable in accessing Middle East export markets.

“The assistance we have received from Trade Queensland’s representatives in Australia and overseas has helped us to achieve exporting success.

“Thomson Adsett highly recommends participation in Trade Queensland’s trade missions, and networking through the Middle East Export Network Forum as a pathway to getting your products and services into these valuable overseas markets,” Ms Martin said.

Laing O'Rourke Strategic Development Executive for Queensland, Josh Kennedy-White, also encouraged the State's businesses to take advantage of the business matching services and trade missions offered by Trade Queensland to gain a foothold in lucrative Middle East markets.

“The export services offered through Trade Queensland are unique and extremely valuable," Mr Kennedy-White said.

“Doing business in the Middle East is all about building personal relationships.

“Trade Queensland can provide introductions with Middle East decision makers and match your business with companies like Laing O'Rourke that are already established in the region.”

Mr Mickel said Laing O’Rourke’s current Middle East projects included Al Raha Beach, a new waterfront city designed as a gateway to Abu Dhabi, various residential buildings, galleries, restaurants and cafés, a marine sport precinct, office towers and several hotels.

“I visited the Al Raha Beach project along with representatives of TAHPI on a recent trade mission that I led to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates last November,” Mr Mickel said.

“The MoU that has been signed as a follow up from that visit paves the way for this local Queensland firm to collaborate and partner with Laing O’Rourke to take part in its projects in the Middle East.”

Despite the impacts of the global financial crisis, the Middle East continues to experience high levels of economic activity resulting from the oil and gas-rich economies in the region including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait.

These economies are creating multiple business opportunities at all levels for Queensland exporters particularly in construction and infrastructure-related services.

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