Western Australian Industry Minister Francis Logan will leave on Sunday for an 18-day tour of Spain and the United States to strengthen strategic relationships with those nations, he announced today.
Western Australian Industry Minister Francis Logan will leave on Sunday for an 18-day tour of Spain and the United States to strengthen strategic relationships with those nations, he announced today.
The full text of an announcement from the Minister's office is pasted below
Industry and Enterprise Minister Francis Logan will lead a Western Australian mission to strengthen strategic relationships with overseas partners in Spain and the United States.
The trip will promote WA's diverse capabilities in key markets in the resources sector, as well as the biotechnology and marine and defence industries.
Mr Logan said the mission would allow WA to showcase its capabilities in the international arena.
"WA's capabilities in oil and gas, biotechnology and marine and defence are world-class and on this trip, we will be highlighting just what this State can achieve and has to offer," he said.
"This mission is committed to furthering commercialisation opportunities for our local industry and promoting WA as a great place in which to live and work."
As part of the mission, the Minister will lead a WA delegation to Boston for the world's biggest biotechnology conference, BIO 2007.
"BIO 2007 will showcase WA's biotechnology industry and capabilities on a global scale," he said.
"The biotechnology industry relies heavily on strategic linkages from around the world to ensure ideas are turned into reality; this conference will position WA as a world leader in the biotechnology industry.
"With more than 20,000 delegates, this event is the only place to be if we are serious about biotechnology as a viable sector to diversify the WA economy."
WA's oil and gas industry will also be central to Mr Logan's trip when he attends the 15th International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas in Barcelona, Spain and the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston in the US.
"These world-leading conferences are major opportunities to raise awareness of WA's skills in oil and gas exploration and new technologies, as well as understand the cutting-edge developments in both sectors," the Minister said.
Mr Logan will also meet with Spanish ship building company Navantia to discuss their bid for the Royal Australian Navy's Amphibious ships project.
"This trip demonstrates the Carpenter Government's commitment to developing industries that diversify the State's economy beyond the current resources boom," he said
The Minister leaves on Sunday and will return on May 10.
