Entering its eighth year, the G’Day USA program remains the largest foreign country promotion held in the US and will include Boston, Houston and Washington for the first time.
Austrade’s Regional Director for the Americas, Grame Barty, said Austrade’s program of activities during G’Day USA 2011 builds on last year’s efforts which demonstrated Australia as an innovative, sophisticated economy with leading edge research technology, goods and services. The focus on water and energy management also continues in 2011.
"Austrade continues to play a pivotal role in the program, creating new business opportunities in energy, water management, bio-fuels, financial services, fashion and food, as well as promoting Australia as a desirable place for investment," Barty said.
"A highlight of the Austrade-managed events, is the three-day Water Forum in Los Angeles (19-21 January) followed by a five-city water seminar tour, which will visit San Francisco, Sacramento, Denver, Houston and end in Washington with the World Bank Forum.
"The Water Series Tour and mission brings together leading Australian and US policy makers and industry leaders, to showcase Australia’s expertise in water conservation, management, policy and product development. It also serves to foster greater collaboration and two-way trade and investment between both countries," he said.
The West Coast program for the second year also features a clean technology seminar and networking event in San Diego (18 January) to highlight Australian capability in this sector. Australian and US experts will discuss the developments, challenges and opportunities in biofuels and raise Australia’s profile as a natural business partner in the US in particular with San Diego – the recognised innovation centre for algae biofuels.
In San Francisco, the Innovation Forum & Dinner (24 January) will showcase Australian innovation in science and technology and continue to raise Australia’s profile as a source of innovation in the US – specifically in areas of innovation, space, biotech, mobile/digital and clean energy.
The event will also recognise Australian Professor Elizabeth Blackburn AC FRS, winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for Medicine, who is currently based at the University of California, San Francisco.
Barty said, East Coast-events in New York and Boston will continue to promote Australia’s world-class capabilities in financial services, financial services technology and fashion, building on the momentum created from previous years.
"Financial services events being held in Boston and New York (27-28 January) will help demonstrate Australia’s economic credentials, expertise and highly developed financial markets, which make Australia one of the major capital markets in Asia," Barty said.
Similarly, the Financial Services Technology showcase events held in Boston and New York will highlight Australian software solutions to key influencers in the US financial services sector. These events will feature three global companies providing solutions in Funds Management and Data Security Marketing.
The Fashion and Jewellery Showcase in New York (19-21 January) will feature thirteen Australian designers – six clothing designers and seven jewellery designers – who will showcase their collections to high-end retailers, fashion and jewellery media in one of the world’s most competitive fashion markets
G’Day USA - Australia Week 2011 is a unique collaboration between the Australian Government (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Trade Commission and Tourism Australia), Qantas Airways and five Australian State governments (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria), with strong support from business, universities and the arts community.