Victoria’s participation at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 will be spearheaded during Victoria Week, running from May 17 to May 23 by three major trade missions showcasing the state’s world-class capabilities in ICT, sustainable urban development and automotive.

As a Platinum Sponsor of the Australian pavilion, Victoria will have a strong presence throughout the six-month Expo and will highlight the state’s strengths as a trade and investment partner with a program of high-level industry-focused events covering best practice in food and agribusiness, education, tourism, biotechnology, and energy. Victoria will also be represented by a diverse cultural program.

With more than 40,000 people expected to visit the Australian pavilion each day, Victorian Premier John Brumby said the Expo would provide unprecedented opportunities for local businesses to consolidate links with China.

“Our focus will be on attracting investments that generate jobs, showcasing Victoria’s innovation and development strengths and boosting our reputation as a great state in which to live, work, study and travel,” Mr Brumby said.

“And in keeping with the Expo’s theme ‘Better City, Better Life’, we will strongly market Victoria’s environment and urban development credentials and our commitment to sustainable, liveable communities.”

Since it was first established by the Victorian Government in June 2006, the Australian Urban Systems Cluster (AUS) has been successfully involved in a number of major urbanisation projects across China.

A 40-member delegation, representing 31 companies in fields ranging from urban planning and design and architectural services, through to waste water technologies and intelligent transport systems, is set to visit Shanghai, Wuhan, Hainan and several cities in Jiangsu Province from May 17 to May 31.

The delegation will play a key role at the Liveable/Sustainable Cities of the Future Forum to be held at the Australian pavilion in partnership with Austrade on May 18 and May 19, during Victoria Week.

Industry and Trade Minister Jacinta Allan said Victoria was fast-gaining a reputation as a centre of design excellence in the Asia Pacific. “The modernisation of China’s economy and infrastructure and its fast growing middle class offers many exciting new opportunities that will create more skilled jobs and export dollars for Victoria,” Ms Allan said.

“Local design, environmental and agribusiness companies are already in China working on projects including a new agricultural city of almost 6,700 hectares at Xuyi in Jiangsu Province.

“This project alone is expected to generate exports from Victoria of more than $250 million over the next five years in areas such as urban planning, design and architectural services, training and education, cattle farming and green building products and technologies.”

Victoria’s automotive sector will also be under the spotlight during Victoria Week, with a delegation of 13 component manufacturers, testing service suppliers, research organisations and after-market suppliers attending the Expo from May 19, before heading to Shenyang, Changchun, Beijing and Harbin.

The Victorian Automotive Capability Mission will seek to build on Victoria’s reputation as Australia’s automotive engine room by promoting the local sector’s R&D, technical and design expertise to China’s booming automotive manufacturing industry.

And up to 35 Victorian information and communication technology companies (ICT) will meet with their Chinese counterparts at a range of high-level Victoria Week events.

China is Victoria’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching $13.57 billion in 2008/09, and also Victoria’s second largest export market, as well as a leading emerging source of foreign direct investment. Chinese firms with major investments in Victoria include Hisense, Suntech, Wuhan Iron and Steel Co (WISCO) and Sinopec.

The 2010 Shanghai World Expo starts on May 1 and runs until the end of October. It will involve participation by nearly 200 countries and 50 international organisations and is expected to attract more than 70 million visitors, mostly from within China.

For general enquiries about Victoria at the Shanghai Expo, please call
T: 13 2215 or
E: shanghai2010expo@diird.vic.gov.au
For public relations and media enquiries please contact:
Media and Communications Manager
Ingrid Sanders
T: +61 3 9651 8006
E: Ingrid.Sanders@diird.vic.gov.au
W: www.diird.vic.gov.au/shanghai-expo