Monday, 19 May 2008 - More than 30 international buyers will attend the 20th Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show on the Gold Coast (May 22-25), providing real export opportunities for 400-plus exhibitors, according to Austrade's Marine Industry Network.

Austrade, the Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX), the Queensland Government and the Gold Coast City Council, will join forces to help deliver Australia's world-class marine capability to buyers from around the world.

Austrade's Marine Network Manager Leigh Wilmott said delegations from Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand and China were among those keen to source Australia's marine expertise.

"The Australian marine industry's turnover is over $5.5 billion annually and the sector's 2700 companies employ over 29,000 people. On the Gold Coast, the local industry is worth around $500 million and supports about 40 per cent of Queensland's marine industry workforce," Mr Wilmott said. "More importantly, the marine industry generates exports worth over $750 million each year - and much of this business is sourced at international boat shows such as Sanctuary Cove," he said.

In 2007, Seawind Catamarans reaped the wind at Sanctuary Cove, selling 11 vessels totalling close to $5 million.

Seawind's Marketing Manager Mr Brent Vaughan said Austrade's suite of services proved an invaluable resource. "With Austrade's support and through our involvement at Sanctuary Cove, we signed up a dealer in Phuket, Thailand, in a transaction worth around $500,000," Mr Vaughan said.

Mr Wilmott said hosting international buyers was just a small component of services offered by Austrade and its allies to 500 marine exporters.

Austrade will also focus on delivering opportunities to the burgeoning new Marine market of Dubai, with Austrade's Dubai-based Trade Commissioner James Wyndham attending the show to help connect Australian exporters to emerging opportunities in Gulf region in the Middle East.

With over fifty waterside developments and associated marina projects to be completed by 2012, and a sales potential of nearly 7,000 imported boats anticipated over the next five years, the Gulf region is a market Australian marine exporters can't ignore," Mr Wyndham said.

"In oil-rich Dubai alone, the emirate has quickly become one of the world's top ten marine destinations, with more than 40,000 marine berths under construction," he said.

Several Australian exporters attended the Dubai International Boat Show in March (11-15) and received a taste of the scale and dynamism of Dubai's marine sector growth in the lead-up to Sanctuary Cove.

During that visit, Victoria's Multipanel secured deal worth $250,000, with additional negotiations underway. Their lightweight panelling materials are used to craft interior furnishings and fixtures, and the company are keen to investigate further opportunities this week at Sanctuary Cove 2008.

"Austrade, the Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX), the Queensland Government and the Gold Coast City Council last year established an International Business Lounge and online business-matching website to coordinate meetings between overseas customers and Australian companies at the show," Mr Wilmott said.

"In addition, Austrade's Marine Industry Network has more than 50 experts in almost 30 countries ready to help Australian businesses export their marine product or service.

"They can source overseas leads then make them immediately available to suitable suppliers via Marine Industry Network representatives in all major Australian centres, turning leads into local export deals," he said.

Note:

• Images: Print resolution images are available.
• Interviews: Leigh Wilmott and James Wyndham (Austrade), and spokespersons for Seawind Catamarans and Multipanel, are available for media interviews.
• Boat Show access: Working journalists, TV crews and online journalists reporting on the Show can receive media accreditation. Contact Kate Duryea kated@sanctuarycove.com for details.

Reprinted by permission of www.austrade.gov.au/Full-speed-ahead-for-marine-exports-at-Sanctuary-Cove-International-Boat-Show