Australia aims to strengthen trade relations with Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The Australian government intensifies its effort to connect with Cebu’s business community, as it sees opportunities to strengthen its trade relations with the province specifically in the food, furniture, tourism, and the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sectors

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell and other officers of the Australian Embassy in Manila were in Cebu yesterday to meet with the leaders of the business sector here and to participate in the celebration of the Cebu Business Month (CBM 2012).

In a press conference, Tweddell said that Cebu has enjoyed good reputation specifically in these mentioned sectors and Australia is seeing its potential to play a vital role in the growth of these industries.

Tweddell was joined by Australia Trade Commission (Austrade) senior trade and investment Commissioner Anthory Weymouth, who said that Australia is looking into not just bringing in new products and technologies from Australia but also Australian investments that will create jobs in Cebu and open third party markets for the products and talents that are expertly Filipino, and proudly Cebu-made.

“Filipinos, particularly Cebuanos have great potential for productivity and quality output. Australian business is already here in Cebu, tapping into the creativity and industriousness of its people, as evident in the investment last year by West Australia-based global shipbuilding firm, Austal, of the former FBMA Marine shipyard and commencing its first shipbuilding project for 2012 right here in Cebu. But there are also opportunities for other industries in and from Cebu that we are excited about,” said Tweddell.

The new Australian managed shipbuilding located in the western part of Cebu province, in Balamban, is now employing about 200 people.

During its meeting with the prominent business people in Cebu, and members of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Tweddell said a trade mission will be conducted by the CCCI members sometime this year in Australia.

At present, there are about 200 Australian companies operating in the Philippines, the Ambassador also mentioned that aside from the growing number of Filipinos migrating to his country, there are also stronger interest of Filipinos studying in Australia, from vocational courses to further graduate studies, among others.