BRISBANE 8 September 2011 Premier Bligh has said she will back the Gold Coast’s games bid all the way and travel to St Kitts and Nevis to continue to lobby for Queensland right down to the wire.
Ms Bligh has also said she will take the opportunity to conduct a trade mission in Latin America as new figures show a massive rise in Queensland’s merchandise exports despite the summer of disasters.
The latest Trade data shows that in the 2010-11 financial year – Queensland’s overseas merchandise exports rose in value by 12.5%, from $43.3 billion to $48.7 billion – a rise of $5.4 billion on the previous year.
“Our bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games is vitally important for the future of the Gold Coast and could be as important for that city as Expo 88 was for Brisbane,” said the Premier.
“The final decision of the host city will be announced on November 11 at The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, which is located in the Leeward Islands in the West Indies.
“We must show that we take both our bid and the quality of our competition seriously and that is why I will travel to Saint Kitts and Nevis to participate in the vital last few days of our bid.
“As well as demonstrating our Government’s commitment this will give me the opportunity to meet ‘one on one’ with delegates and discuss any ‘Games’ detail directly.
“When we made the decision to make this bid I committed to backing it all the way and that is what I intend to do in November.”
The Premier said that she would use this opportunity to visit Latin America on a trade mission and to open our new trade offices in the region – Santiago in Chile and Brazilian capital Belo Horizonte.
“Queensland’s merchandise exports to Latin America were valued at A$1.6 B in 2010-11, representing 49.4% of Australia’s total overseas merchandise exports to the region.
“Our exports to Brazil alone were valued at A$1.04 B in 2010-11p, making it Queensland’s largest merchandise exports market in Latin America and the ninth largest in the world.
“Without doubt Queensland is the number one State when it comes to engaging with Latin America and I will use my visit to strengthen these ties.”
The Premier said the opening of a headquarters in Santiago will represent a watershed moment in the Queensland’s trade and investment operations.
“Santiago is now the Latin America headquarters for around 30 Queensland companies. The office is committed to growing the interests of those already in the region, but also new market entrants,” she said.
“The opening of an office in Belo Horizonte delivers against an earlier commitment made in 2010 and our relationship with the State of Minas Gerais will now evolve to a new phase of co-operation.
While the resources and infrastructure sectors have provided the foundation for the relationship we are now keen to broaden the relationship in areas such as education, agribusiness and life sciences.”
Treasury budget papers suggest Queensland’s economy will rebound to an above-average growth of 5% in 2011-12, the highest rate in five years, and our export volumes are forecast to grow at a decade-high 10 per cent in 2011-12.
