Delegates from the Victorian Government-backed Australian Engineering Network (AUSEN) trade mission to China have returned to Australia after ten days of solid trade talks with Chinese and Korean government officials and business leaders.
Organised through the Victorian Government’s Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development (DIIRD), the AUSEN trade mission explored trade opportunities between major Australian companies represented by AUSEN, and their Chinese and Korean counterparts.
The official opening of the trade mission by Victorian Premier, John Brumby, kicked-off a non-stop tour starting in Beijing. The delegation then moved to the northern city of Daqing, known for its oil and gas industry, before continuing on to the nearby city and shipping hub of Dalian. The group’s final stop was the South Korean capital, Seoul.
Directors, deputy-directors and other top officials were present from industry giants such as Sinopec, PetroChina, China National Petroleum Corporation, Maison Worley, and Samsung.
“There was a real keenness to do business with Australia, and clear interest in the technologies that we have to offer,” said AUSEN chairman and Champion Compressors marketing manager, Dino Alessio. “Right from the start, there was a definite sense that it was only natural for trade to grow between the two countries. This made it the perfect business forum for the AUSEN delegation.”
According to Alessio, the backing of the Victorian Government, and collaboration of Australian companies through AUSEN was crucial in obtaining the major government and business audience. “The combination of government and multiple businesses meant that we really received an incredible reception. There is significant time spent, and onus on, developing personal rapport before getting down to business in China, and in this sense, the trade-mission created an ideal environment for doing business.”
With meetings and translation services arranged by the DIIRD, this paved the way for the delegation to focus on discussions. “The AUSEN trade mission helped open the way for individual companies doing business in this region,” said Alessio. “For AUSEN member companies, such as Champion Compressors, that are looking to build on exports of engineering expertise into the Asian market, it was the perfect opportunity. With Chinese companies looking to benefit from the expertise of the AUSEN companies through trade links, time and again we found ourselves hearing, ‘We have to do business’.”