AUSTRALIA’S business events sector received a major boost end-November when the Federal Government entered into a partnership to assist the industry during the bidding and event delivery process.
At the Australian Export Awards in Sydney, minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Robb, said international business events are an integral part of the government’s economic diplomacy agenda and unveiled the historic new framework, Attracting Business Events to Australia: Role of Government Agencies.
The framework is a strategic collaboration between the Federal Government – through Austrade and Tourism Australia – and Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) as well as the business events sector to attract world-class events.
Welcoming the collaboration as a recognition of the importance of business events to the economy, AACB President Lyn Lewis-Smith, said: “This is a groundbreaking win for the sector. International business events offer high yield benefits beyond the event that drive prosperity for Australia and contribute to the visitor and knowledge economies.
“With the growth potential of Asian markets, government support and involvement is essential to ensure AACB is in the best-possible position to identify, bid for and win business events that align with the national priority areas, and better connect industry, academia, government and the private sector.”
Separately, in Sydney, 19 events worth a combined A$150 million (US$125.5 million) have been secured for International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) following news of the city being selected as host city for the International Chamber of Commerce World Chambers Federation World Chambers Congress in 2017.
Sydney will be the first Australian city to host the conference, will bring about 1,000 delegates and is worth A$3.3 million to the New South Wales economy.
The conference will be held in the new ICC Sydney at Darling Harbour and joins a growing list of prestigious global events that BESydney has secured for the new facilities.
