CHOGM comes alive
Perth Launch of the CBF - CBF Steering Committee Co-Chair Mark Barnaba, Lord Mayor of Perth Lisa Scaffidi, Chairman ANZ Western Australia, John Atkins, Managing Director and CEO of Woodside, Don Voelte, Executive Director of Rio Tinto, Sam Walsh, Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, Special Minister of State Gary Gray, Chairman and Managing Director, Perdaman Chemicals & Fertilisers Mr Vikas Rambal, Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, Mohan Kaul.
It has been announced that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will officially open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth on Friday, October 28.
CHOGM 2011 and its associated Forums gather momentum with the launch of the Commonwealth Business Forum, the premier business event on the Commonwealth calendar.
The Forum, organised by the Commonwealth Business Council in collaboration with and supported by the Western Australian Government and the Australian Government, will be held from 25 – 27 October just prior to the heads of government meeting.
It will bring together more than 1,000 business and government leaders to capitalise on business and investment opportunities in the 54 nations of the Commonwealth and beyond.
In attendance at the launch in Perth was the CEO of the Commonwealth Business Council Dr Mohan Kaul, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr Kamalesh Sharma, the Hon Gary Gray, Special Minister of State and the Premier of Western Australia, the Hon Colin Barnett.
“It augurs very well for a great conference which will not only develop business and trade relationships but also showcase our wonderful city, state and nation to the rest of the world,” the Premier said.
In addition to the forum, and run alongside CHOGM, will be the Commonwealth Festival sponsored by the WA Government and presented by the Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF).
The Premier said at the launch of the eight-day arts and culture festival that, “the emphasis of the Commonwealth Festival will be on impressive, free family activities for the Western Australian community while also showcasing Perth to the 4,000 delegates and visitors expected as part of CHOGM 2011.”
The AU$2.45 million festival will include a featured ‘People’s Space’ within the Perth Cultural Centre. Events during the week will feature some of WA’s finest talents within a programme including, a film festival involving free screenings of Commonwealth countries’ films, street theatre, a photography project, an indigenous program comprising several landmark indigenous art exhibitions and activities and a world music closing concert on the final day.
The Forum‘s official launch in London was held in Australia High Commission and hosted by the Deputy High Commissioner Adam McCarthy. Chief Executive Officer of Rio Tinto Iron Ore, Sam Walsh, delivered the keynote address.
It is expected that CHOGM and its associated forums will attract more people to WA and current estimates are that this will result in a direct economic impact of $80million additional expenditure in the State from visitor spending and spending by the Federal Government on venues, accommodation, security, dinners and receptions.
For more information visit www.chogm2011.org
London Launch - Mohan Kaul, CBC, Kerry Sanderson, Agent General WA, Sam Walsh, Rio Tinto, John Denton, CBF Steering Committee
London Launch - Lord Howell, Kerry Sanderson, Agent General WA and Mohan Kaul, CBC
