Look to Asia Pacific, urges Austrade

Peter Dinham
Monday, 15 June 2009 14:26

Business IT - Technology

This year, 44 Australian companies will showcase their innovation at the event, and Twine said CommunicAsia was an integral part of Austrade’s strategy to boost Australia’s ICT exports to the region. Austrade will also bring international buyers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam to maximise prospects for Australian firms.

“The Asia Pacific includes Australia’s biggest export markets for IT goods and services–New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan.  South East Asia is also a major export destination. In 2007-08, Australian ICT exports to ASEAN member countries reached $505 million, a 21 per cent increase from the previous year.”
 
According to Twine, the recent ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) was expected to further enhance market opportunities when it comes into effect early next year.”
 
Austrade’s Singapore-based Trade Commissioner, Julianne Merriman says Australian companies enjoy a strong reputation for innovation, specialisation in niche technologies and quality of service around the Asia Pacific, and she says “there are opportunities for the Australian IT industry in telecommunications, broadband and wireless, mobile services, eLearning, eSecurity, eGovernment, intelligent transport systems and digital content.

“Other areas of focus include business intelligence, enterprise applications such as ERP (enterprise resource planning) and CRM (customer relationship management).”