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www.advancecairns.com RW

Business Across the Strait 733917 particularly from Treasurer Andrew companies have been active in that market+ to PNG’s main 4industrial centre, Lae, Fraser who has taken a personal interest for decades. However, the heightened which we led in partnership with in this process. The Government has now expenditure generated by the many new Chamber of Commerce President, Jeremy appointed two staff positions in Cairns to mining and resource projects has captured Blockey. It was quite obvious that the support the initiative - a Trade Queensland our attention. opportunities in Lae were very different Offi cer, Deborah Maguire and Special to those demonstrated in Port Moresby, Nineteen Cairns businesses joined the Representative for PNG, Kevin Byrne. but they were no less signifi cant. As well 36-strong delegation on the three-day This all builds on the work the Chamber as meeting with the Lae Chamber of Ross Contarino mission to Port Moresby, and the group and its sub-committee, the Resource and Commerce, we also met with several local Advance Cairns has for some months now was warmly welcomed by PNG business Industrial Taskforce have been ploughing businesses that showed serious interest been working with the Cairns Chamber and Government leaders. It was clear of Commerce and the Queensland ahead with for the past four years. how signifi cant the interest currently is in in utilising the business linkages with Government on seeking opportunities PNG as we met numerous Cairns business the . They are particularly A trade mission to Papua New Guinea interested in scoring direct fl ights to for Tropical North Queensland-based led by the Treasurer Andrew Fraser three people who were not part of the Trade businesses in Papua New Guinea. At the Mission, during our stay. Quite apart Cairns, which they believe will make weeks ago provided local businesses beginning of this year we hired a local from the formal meetings arranged by the doing business here much easier. with the perfect opportunity to explore consulting agency to research and identify mission leaders Trade Queensland and their options for doing business with the Our mission now is to continue to work with a clear path for the region’s businesses to Austrade, we were able to secure several Pacifi c nation. The trip has been heralded the Cairns Chamber, Trade Queensland follow, and that process is producing some one-on-one meetings with companies great insights. a resounding success, and there have such as ExxonMobil, Asian Development and the Special Representative for PNG already been reciprocal visits by PNG- Bank, Ok Tedi and InterOil. on a range of activities that will strengthen We have also been very pleased with based companies to deal with Cairns this working relationship with our near the level of assistance we have received companies. Of course doing business with In addition to the Port Moresby mission, neighbours including plans for additional from the State Government and most PNG is not a new initiative and many local Advance Cairns added a two-day visit trade missions later this year. Matching Marine Services Partnering with PNG Forum A local consultant with more than 30 years of Businesses looking to export their current business experience working marine industry experience has been engaged services and expertise into Papua with, and in PNG. to investigate business matching opportunities New Guinea will learn more about for the Far North’s marine sector. the process at a forum in Cairns this DATE: Wednesday, April 21 Phil Simpson of Simpson Marine has been month. TIME: 3.00pm - 6.00pm appointed to undertake the fi rst element of the The ‘Partnering with PNG’ forum, VENUE: Shangri-la Hotel Ballroom $90,000 Marine Services Business Matching co-hosted by Advance Cairns and Project,Russell beingBeer delivered by Advance Cairns, Cairns Chamber of Commerce, will RSVP: Via Cairns Chamber of which will involve market research to identify feature a panel session and key guest Commerce website: specifi c marine refi t/maintenance opportunities presenters offering extensive and www.cairnschamber.com.au and synergies for local companies. the economic downturn in the marine services A steering committee of representatives of sector by establishing and building relationships local marine service providers, the State with key national and international customers Government and Advance Cairns will oversee and stakeholders, and identify opportunities to On Brand the project, which aims to mitigate the impact of be matched to regional capabilities. A regional brand designed to market the consultant from Melbourne who has been Tropical North as an exotic food destination engaged to research, develop and implement is in the works following input from the the branding strategy, led the workshops region’s food industry stakeholders. and was encouraged by the stakeholders’ realisation of the worth of a regional brand. Hospital Redevelopment on Track A series of branding workshops held in Mossman, Cairns, Walkamin and South Mr Singline will return to the Tropical North Johnstone last month produced united later this month to present a story that will enthusiasm for a holistic brand for the represent the brand, which will dovetail into region’s food industry. the region’s tourism branding. Peter Singline, a recognised branding Thinking TNQ More than 360 web-watchers from across the www.thinktnq.com.au demonstrates the globe logged onto the Think TNQ website cumulative strengths and advantages of the following its launch late last month. TNQ region setting it apart from other regions in Queensland, with the objective to promote The regional web portal, designed to promote the potential for diverse and sustainable the liveability of Tropical North Queensland Advance Cairns CEO Ross Contarino, being built on the Esplanade. economic development to any prospective who sits on the Hospital Redevelopment and investment opportunities in the region, Mr Contarino said the projects are all investor, business owner or resident. Advisory Board, joined a tour of the has attracted visitors from Cairns to the in full swing and providing valuable United States of America and Papua New Queensland Health Cairns Base Hospital opportunities for the region’s skilled Guinea since its offi cial launch at the Shangri- construction sites last month. tradesmen. “I was quite impressed with La Hotel in Cairns last month. The tour took in the new Northern Health the innovative design being utilised on the The most hits came from within Centre on Sheridan Street, the new car Northern Health Centre, which should be a with residents leading the charge, park and Oncology Centre on Lake Street boost for both patients and staff members followed by signifi cant interest from visitors and the expansion of the Emergency Ward alike,” he said. in Sydney, Cairns and Melbourne.

51 The Esplanade, Cairns Queensland 4870, Australia Phone: +61 (07) 4080 2900 Fax: +61 (07) 4031 3994 Email: [email protected]

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