Gold Coast Popular with Middle East
Gold Coast Bulletin, 10/11/2006
He went to talk to the most powerful men in the Middle East about Queensland, but all they wanted to talk about was the Gold Coast.
Premier Peter Beattie yesterday discovered the top marketing tool Queensland has when it comes to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is the Gold Coast - and he is running with it.
Mr Beattie called The Gold Coast Bulletin on Wednesday night from Abu Dhabi to relay the reception he received when he mentioned those two magic words.
“All the senior people here have been there,” he said.
“They all love the Gold Coast and when you talk to people here, it is the pivotal thing to doing business. It is an amazing promotion, the best selling point we have got.”
Mr Beattie said he had started to use the Gold Coast as an ‘in’ during meetings to convince them to invest and trade with Queensland.
Already more than 16,000 Middle Eastern tourists holiday in Queensland each year, mostly on the Gold Coast, but the number is set to soar with the appointment of Queensland trade representatives to be based in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
“It’s all very well coming to the Gold Coast for holidays, we have to get them to do one of two days business while they are there,” he said. “The Gold Coast is going to do very well out of this.”
Queensland was the first Australian state to appoint trade representatives in the Middle-Eastern countries.
The new trade representatives would also play a role in promoting Queensland as the number one tourism destination of choice.
Mr Beattie has met key government and business representatives during his visit invluding the Governor of Riyadh, Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, President of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Salah Salem bin Omair Al Shamsi and the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Sheik Hamad bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“Increasing our visibility in Abu Dhabi is an important trade milestone and adds significant weight to the 1999 Memorandum of Understanding between the city and my Government,” said Mr Beattie.
The UAE has one of the highest incomes per capita in the Middle East and its rapid growth has driven up demand for imported goods and services.
Southport based ML Design, specialising in architecture, master planning, urban and interior design, has already opened an office in Abu Dhabi.
“Along with a building and construction boom, there’s rising demand for expertise in areas such as engineering and financial services, education and training, as well as information and communications technology,” said Mr Beattie.
“And we’re already seeing Queensland firms picking up the business.
“By establishing trade representation here, the Queensland Government can provide in-market support to help more Queensland exporters and promote the Smart State’s many trade strengths and as an investment location.”
Mr Beattie will arrive in London today to host a reception at Queensland House to promote business and trade as well as job opportunities for doctors and skilled professionals. His 12-day trade mission will also include visits to Monaco, Berlin and Italy.
Premier Peter Beattie yesterday discovered the top marketing tool Queensland has when it comes to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is the Gold Coast - and he is running with it.
Mr Beattie called The Gold Coast Bulletin on Wednesday night from Abu Dhabi to relay the reception he received when he mentioned those two magic words.
“All the senior people here have been there,” he said.
“They all love the Gold Coast and when you talk to people here, it is the pivotal thing to doing business. It is an amazing promotion, the best selling point we have got.”
Mr Beattie said he had started to use the Gold Coast as an ‘in’ during meetings to convince them to invest and trade with Queensland.
Already more than 16,000 Middle Eastern tourists holiday in Queensland each year, mostly on the Gold Coast, but the number is set to soar with the appointment of Queensland trade representatives to be based in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
“It’s all very well coming to the Gold Coast for holidays, we have to get them to do one of two days business while they are there,” he said. “The Gold Coast is going to do very well out of this.”
Queensland was the first Australian state to appoint trade representatives in the Middle-Eastern countries.
The new trade representatives would also play a role in promoting Queensland as the number one tourism destination of choice.
Mr Beattie has met key government and business representatives during his visit invluding the Governor of Riyadh, Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, President of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Salah Salem bin Omair Al Shamsi and the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Sheik Hamad bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“Increasing our visibility in Abu Dhabi is an important trade milestone and adds significant weight to the 1999 Memorandum of Understanding between the city and my Government,” said Mr Beattie.
The UAE has one of the highest incomes per capita in the Middle East and its rapid growth has driven up demand for imported goods and services.
Southport based ML Design, specialising in architecture, master planning, urban and interior design, has already opened an office in Abu Dhabi.
“Along with a building and construction boom, there’s rising demand for expertise in areas such as engineering and financial services, education and training, as well as information and communications technology,” said Mr Beattie.
“And we’re already seeing Queensland firms picking up the business.
“By establishing trade representation here, the Queensland Government can provide in-market support to help more Queensland exporters and promote the Smart State’s many trade strengths and as an investment location.”
Mr Beattie will arrive in London today to host a reception at Queensland House to promote business and trade as well as job opportunities for doctors and skilled professionals. His 12-day trade mission will also include visits to Monaco, Berlin and Italy.
