Businesses across Australia will have the opportunity to learn about the commercial prospects in the $14.5 trillion United States market at seminars organised by Austrade (11-25 May), following the significant economic and policy changes in the US over the past two years.Austrade’s Regional Director for the Americas, Grame Barty, said with the United States recovery underway, the national seminar series entitled ‘New USA.Local Revival.Global Reach’ will highlight the opportunities in the US public sector, commercialisation, water management and conservation, financial services and social media and e-commerce.

“The United States also remains Australia’s most significant commercial partner, taking into account the value and diversity of our two-way investment and trade flows. In 2008, the US was the largest foreign investor into Australia with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) comprising $95.4 billion.

“It’s not only the scale of the relationship which makes the US important, but also the range of sectors it encompasses and the depth of the integration of our commercial links,” Mr Barty said.

Austrade’s Washington-based Senior Trade Commissioner, Alison McGuigan-Lewis, said while Australia’s commercial relationship with the US is both long standing and mature, the challenge ahead for local companies is the need to understand that the US remains a demanding and competitive market.

“To assist Australian businesses, Austrade has assembled a team of leading US experts and Austrade’s US specialists to provide market insights at these seminars.

“This will provide an invaluable opportunity for businesses considering entering or expanding in this challenging market,” Ms McGuigan-Lewis said.

The seminars will also focus on opportunities in new media and entertainment, especially as interactive spend in the US is expected to grow from US$16 billion in 2009 to nearly US$55 billion by 2014.

Similarly, seminars on US Government Contracts will outline why Australian businesses should also take advantage of the lucrative US Public Sector (Federal, State and Local Government Authorities).

“The US Public Sector is the largest consumer of goods and services in the US, having spent US$1.029 trillion in 2008 US fiscal year, and has an appetite to learn about Australian practices and capabilities in a variety of areas,” Ms McGuigan-Lewis said.

The seminar series commences in Perth (11 May) then continues in Adelaide (12 May); Brisbane (14 May); Sydney (18 May); Melbourne (20 May) and Canberra (24 May).

Austrade has a network devoted to the US market, providing extensive support for Australian exporters and assisting US companies invest into Australia.

For more information or to register, contact Austrade on 13 28 78 or visit www.austrade.gov.au

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