Trade leaders from all States and Territories gathered in Sydney today to discuss pressing issues and deepen Australia’s collaborative approach to trade and investment priorities locally and internationally.
NSW Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong welcomed Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism and co-host Don Farrell to NSW parliament for the second meeting of the Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment (MCTI).
Minister Chanthivong said hosting the meeting provided the state the unique opportunity to showcase its strengths and capabilities to Commonwealth, State and Territory representatives.
“It was an honour to host the second meeting of the Ministerial Council in NSW and welcome my esteemed colleagues to Sydney,” Mr Chanthivong said.
“NSW continues to be a leading advocate for improving national effectiveness in attracting quality foreign investment and growing Australia’s international trade through government collaboration.
“We welcomed the opportunity to step forward and play our role, and I commend the Australian Government for its commitment to seeking collective solutions on common challenges.”
Minister Farrell said the focus of today’s meeting was on national collaboration and action across priority areas, including the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2024, the clean energy transition to net zero and First Nations economic uplift.
“I was delighted to co-host Australia’s council of trade and investment ministers here in Sydney, to develop a common plan to boost Australia’s standing as a trusted, reliable trading nation,” Minister Farrell said.
“This meeting of trade ministers is an important opportunity to collectively advance Australia’s trade and investment diversification priorities,”
Following the official meeting, the delegation were given a tour of the University of Sydney’s Southeast Asia Centre, experiencing firsthand the active approach by Sydney University to lead ASEAN research initiatives.