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General Enquiries: Phone 1800 244 650 • Email: business.mailbox@act.gov.au

 

Welcome to the first newsletter for 2009. The newsletter focuses on current news and events on the programs and activities Business and Industry Development delivers to the ACT business community.

 

MALAYSIA-VIETNAM TRADE MISSION IN APRIL

The Chief Minister will lead a 10 day ACT trade and investment mission to Malaysia and Vietnam from 14–24 April 2009. While this will be the first ACT Mission to these countries, Malaysia is already a key market for a number of local companies, so the mission will be a chance to further build on established commercial relationships, as well as create new opportunities. The delegation will spend 4–5 days in each country.

The mission will be delivered in partnership with Austrade. The ACT Government will support company participants by absorbing the cost of Austrade's professional business matching services. The Chief Minister will, where appropriate, be available to attend business matching meetings to support ACT companies and he will also host a number of networking events to bring together mission participants and potential customers. The Chief Minister will also hold high-level government-to-government meetings.

The ACT Government and Austrade have partnered very successfully in recent years delivering missions in India, China, the US and Canada. Mission participants have been enthusiastic about outcomes with significant new business arising from all the missions.

An Expression of Interest process will commence shortly inviting ACT businesses to participate. In the interim companies interested in the mission can contact BID for a preliminary discussion, or to register interest in receiving mission related information by phoning 6205 3051 or 6207 1641.

 

AUSTRALIA NEEDS SKILLS EXPOS IN THE UK

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has announced that it will host two Australia Needs Skills expos in the United Kingdom in Manchester on 20–21 June 2009 and in London on 27–28 June 2009. The expos will coincide with the inaugural G’day UK Australia Week campaign. The expos will be highly targeted to help employers identify and more quickly obtain the skilled workers they need, providing state and territory governments with the opportunity to fill critical skills shortages in their jurisdictions.

The ACT Government has participated in similar events in the past and has found the DIAC expos to be highly effective in engaging with skilled workers motivated to immigrate to Australia. The expos are a great opportunity to tell the Canberra story and convert interest in Australia to a Canberra skills migration outcome. The ACT Government will be looking at the UK expos more closely in the coming weeks as possible opportunities for direct involvement.

 

BLACK MOUNTAIN PLANT PHENOMICS FACILITY HITTING ITS STRAPS

In the 2008/09 Budget, the ACT Government provided a $1.1 million co-contribution to the establishment of a world first $18 million Plant Phenomics Facility in Canberra. The Australian Government has also provided significant funding for the facility via the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy funding program, with CSIRO and ANU the key local partners also contributing. The Canberra Facility will make a major contribution to advanced scientific understanding of plant phenomics, with likely outcomes in improved food security, biofuels production and climate change adaptation. The facility will also draw significant new talent to the ACT and have other local economic spin-offs through the supply of specialist skills, equipment and consulting services. The Canberra Facility will also host the first International Plant Phenomics Symposium in April this year with delegates visiting from across Australia and abroad. The ACT Government’s funding is also being used to leverage outreach and education programs.

 

CANBERRA TO HOST IPv6 FORUM

IPv6 is the ‘next generation’ internet protocol designed to replace the current version (IPv4), the ‘architecture’ that runs behind the scenes of the internet.

Much has been made over recent years regarding the number of available IP addresses being diminished and possibly restricting the capacity of the internet to grow and further develop. In early March 2009, the ACT Government will host an IPv6 Round Table in Canberra that will bring together invited government, research and industry stakeholders to discuss IPv6 issues including the value of government leadership of the new technology.

 

CANBERRA BUSINESSPOINT PROGRAMS/EVENTS

Canberra BusinessPoint, the ACT Government funded business information and advisory service is conducting a new program titled Business Health Checks—Managing in Volatile Times. The program will focus on issues such as:

• sales reductions;
• revenue streams;
• managing staff resources to maximise retention; and
• reviewing business plans to cope with uncertain economic circumstances.

Further information can be obtained from the Canberra BusinessPoint website at: www.canberrabusinesspoint.com.au

Canberra BusinessPoint’s February networking function—Investing in Tough Times—is also a ‘must attend’. It will be presented by Julian Farmer, Private Client Adviser, Macquarie Private Wealth.

When?

Thursday 19 February 2009

Time

5.30 pm–7.30 pm

Venue

Deloitte, Level 2, 8 Brindabella Circuit, Brindabella Business Park, Canberra Airport

RSVP

By Monday February 16 (as numbers are strictly limited) to Amy MacCormack. Phone: 6263 7200. Email: amaccormack@deloitte.com.au.

 

ACT SOLAR POWER PROJECT MOVES AHEAD

Plans are moving ahead for a major solar power facility for the ACT, with the announcement of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as the Territory’s external advisor for the market testing process.

PwC’s expertise is strengthened by its unique partnership with Wes Stein, a recognised authority on solar power technologies, and Project Leader of the National Solar Energy Centre. The Government intends to publicly call for proposals to construct the large‑scale ACT Solar Power Facility in early 2009, with PwC assisting in engaging with the private sector, framing the terms of the Request for Proposals, evaluating responses, and selecting a shortlist of strong and viable proposals to be progressed to a second procurement stage.

 

ACT GOVERNMENT BUSINESS INVESTMENT FACILITATION PROGRAM

The Investment Facilitation Program (IFP) is a new ACT Government program designed to provide a vehicle for eligible private sector companies to apply for concessions on payroll tax liabilities that are linked to significant and innovative new business investment projects in the ACT. The IFP supports the ACT Government’s policy objective of encouraging a diverse and innovative private sector economy, and participation in the program is approved only in relation to proposals that meet the program criteria and demonstrate:

• the strategic value of the investment or new business to the Territory;
• new or additional investments that have strong business outcomes in areas such as research and development, export capacity, and human capital development; and
• a positive employment impact with a focus on high value-adding jobs.

For further information contact a BID Client Manager by phone on 6207 8175 or 6207 5816, or email business.mailbox@act.gov.au.

 

ACT EXPORTERS NETWORK—INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THAILAND

Australian Business Limited International Trade Services is inviting interested companies to attend a FREE seminar in Canberra on investment opportunities in benefits for Australian companies, with particularly big up-front gains for shipbuilding, marine products, mining-oil and gas, telecommunications, engineering, manufacturing exporters, software development and automotive.

The seminar will provide ACT companies with the opportunity to learn more about:

• the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement and flow through benefits for ACT companies;
• Thailand’s economic and legal frameworks and business environment; and
• competitive advantages and benefits associated with investment in Thailand.

What?

Investment in Thailand Seminar

When?

10:30–12:30 am Wednesday 18 February 2009

Where?

Unit 3, 125 Gladstone Street, Fyshwick, ACT

RSVP

By Monday 16 February via email to Brooke Anderson at: brooke.anderson@canberrabusinesscouncil.com.au.

For more information please contact ABL International Trade services on 1800 505 529.

 

WALTER TURNBULL CORPORATE CHALLENGE TO AID VICTORIAN BUSHFIRE VICTIMS

Run for Your Life is issuing a challenge to all local businesses, corporations and government departments to take part in the Water Turnbull Corporate Challenge by competing in teams.

The Walter Turnbull Corporate Challenge will be held on 28 February, as part of the STROMLO Running Festival being held from 27 February to 1 March.

$50 from every $200 team entry fee will go to the Red Cross Bushfire appeal to raise money for the victims of the Victorian bushfires.

For more information or to register a team, please visit the event website at: www.stromlorunningfestival.com.au.

 

CONFERENCE ON INNOVATION AND COMMERCIALISATION

The Licensing Executives Society Annual Conference will be held in Canberra from 2–4 April 2009. The ACT Government is a contributing sponsor of the conference.

Titled Creating and Driving Impact the conference will bring together international and national speakers on a range of engaging topics including:

• Making a difference through successful innovation—technology transfer models, social entrepreneurship, indigenous commercialisation.
• Having the tools and skills to support change—capital raising, negotiation skills, international engagement, conflict resolution.

Supplementing the conference is a series of pre-conference professional development workshops:

• Life’s a Pitch—practical skills for successful pitchers;
• IP Intelligenc —intellectual property analytics;
• Biotech Licensing—drafting the hot licensing clauses;
• Patent Enforcement—an international perspective; and
• Gene Technology for Decision Makers—DNA for the non-scientist.

For obtain further information or register for the conference or workshops visit the LESANZ website at: www.lesanz.org.au.

 

NUSKILLS LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

The modern business world demands basic computer skills for efficient business transactions. NuSkills Learning and Development delivered by Communities@Work is offering an ACT Government subsidised program giving small businesses the opportunity to learn how to produce simple word processed documents and spreadsheets, and to be proficient in conducting business transactions through email and the internet.

Here’s the chance to finally feel confident in tackling internet banking, online ordering, lodgements of BAS, emails and more.

What?

Computing for Small Business—Statement of Attainment in Certificate I, II & III in Business

Who?

Small business operators and their employees, or the self employed

When?

6.30 pm–9 pm Wednesday nights (commencing late February/early March ’09)

Where?

Tuggeranong Community Centre

How Many?

Small, personalised classes with only 10 places available

Cost

$120

To enrol or for more information contact NuSkills Learning and Development—

• Phone: 6280 7900; or
• Email: nuskills@nuskillslearning.org.

 

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information on any of the above news items, or to make an enquiry, please contact us by—

• Phone: 1800 244 650
• Email: business.mailbox@act.gov.au

A full description of BID’s programs can be viewed at: www.business.act.gov.au

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