A PERMANENT NATIONAL TRADE DEVELOPMENT WORKING GROUP

At the ministerial Council for International Trade held late last year, Ministers agreed to establish a permanent National Trade Development Working Group (NTDWG). The first meeting of the NTDWG was held in December 2010. The NTDWG provides a working-level consultative forum on operational trade development matters. The next few months of operation will focus on protocols of cooperation, industry and events collaboration and service deliver issues. The NTDWG includes representatives from Austrade (as the Chair) and State and Territory Governments. The next meeting is planned for May 2011. Following recent COAG reforms, the Ministerial Council for International Trade will no longer meet formally. However official bodies such as the NTDWG will continue to progress a coordinated trade development work program.

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