Investment continues in WA
Strong interest and investment continues in the city of Perth with the release of the Perth, Western Australia Business Report and the announcement that the city will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2011.
Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi and former head of Tourism WA Richard Muirhead have recently been announced to join the group of prominent Western Australian business people who will over see WA’s involvment in the event.
Richard Muirhead has been appointed to the role of State Director with the State Government to provide assistance to the Commonwealth in staging CHOGM as well as develop initiatives promoting WA and aiding local business and community participation in the international event.
Premier Colin Barnett said at press conference for the announcement CHOGM, “Holding such a major global event here will showcase Perth and Western Australia to the world and allow us to expand our international trade and investment networks.”
CHOGM 2011 is expected to attract more than 3,000 interstate and international visitors as well as 1,000 local and international media. Leaders from 54 nations including the United Kingdom, Canada, Mozambique, Pakistan, Samoa and Zambia are also likely to attend CHOGM 2011.
Premier Barnett also commented in the foreword of the Business report that in addition to the traditional links with Britain, CHOGM will help to strengthen ties with other commonwealth countries. The “consistency of language, legal systems and government systems” is important when building networks that stretch across international boundaries.
WA’s industries continue to build ties with international firms; in the last six months significant delegations from the UK and Spain have visited WA looking into investment opportunities across various industries. WA’s role in the Australian export economy is significant with around 70 per cent of the countries exports to China, more than 50 per cent exports to India and around 40 per cent to Japan originating in the state.
