CeBIT fair participants see WA's lifestyle and business attractions

9/3/95

Western Australia's business and lifestyle attractions are being absorbed by thousands of international visitors to the big CeBIT trade fair in Germany.

CeBIT, now under way in the city of Hanover, is the world's biggest information technology and telecommunications trade fair - but those attending are seeing a much broader picture of what WA has to offer.

Deputy Premier and Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan, who is in Hanover, said that Australia's status as 'partner country' at CeBIT this year allowed it to promote a much wider range of activities than just information technology.

"Australia is the only foreign country entitled to present itself in this way and WA has seized the opportunity to paint the full picture," Mr Cowan said.

"As well as showing overseas company executives the economic benefits of relocating or headquartering their operations in WA, our stand also highlights aspects such as lifestyle, leisure, climate and education facilities."

Australia's partner status gave WA officials greater scope to pursue investment opportunities in the State. 

"From the business point of view, WA can offer first class research and development opportunities, a common timezone with Asia and government incentives for new industries," the Minister said.

"In particular, the Government can offer international companies support in setting up a regional headquarters or a manufacturing base in the world's best location.

"In short, WA is making a concerted effort to capitalise on its unique geographical position and become a major world centre for processing data and information technology - the ideal base for overseas companies to reach the huge Asian market."

Mr Cowan said the WA Government was employing state-of-the-art technology to promote WA at Hanover - via the Internet system.

"Information on the State's attractions is being displayed on the Internet and is accessible to millions of users around the world in an area of the Internet known as the World Wide Web," he said.

"The Government believes it is appropriate to display our pre-eminent situation in the IT world on the world's foremost IT venue, the Web.

"The information includes descriptions of the State in terms of its economic attractions and an outline of its IT technology capabilities and track record.

"The information is attractively set out and simple to move around in.  It is also inexpensive and has the potential to be a significant contributor to WA's efforts to promote itself overseas and in other Australian States.

"The 6,000 international organisations exhibiting at CeBIT, and the estimated one million people expected to visit the expo, are just the sort people who will be browsing through the Internet and could find WA an attractive proposition."

Media contact:  Peter Jackson 222 9595