Vol. 13 Nbr. 1, March 2005

Index

• Australia's achievers: Overseas Trading is pleased to announce the winners of the second annual Trailblazer Awards 2005. We've selected 15 of Australia's top home-grown exporters--the companies who are leading the country's increasingly successful export drive.
• Austrade gears up for continued improvement in export values; Austrade's chief economist, Tim Harcourt has used an analogy to help Australia's general public understand exports, comparing the sector with the animation blockbuster 'The Incredibles'.
• Export infrastructure--the right approach to part of the problem.
• Bonding with the US: the SME solution: Australia's Free Trade Agreement with the United States (AUSFTA) has opened a wealth of new opportunities for business, but tapping into this vast export market presents unique challenges, particularly for small-medium enterprises (SMEs) exploring the exciting possibilities.
• EFIC & NEXI co-operate in overseas projects; the export credit agencies of Australia and Japan have joined forces to assist exporters in securing overseas contracts where both countries are involved as suppliers.
• EFIC and Westpac to explore new working capital product.
• L'Estrange and Chester join EFIC board.
• Who's winning? The shape of global competition: we are delighted to bring this exclusive and special paper by the Australian Industry Group on Australia's export competitiveness with the rest of the world.
• Asia Pacific regionalism: Mark Vaile speaks out; Australian Trade Minister presented an executive paper on global trading and Asia Pacific regionalism in Santiago, Chile recently. Here is his presentation.
• India--mystical no longer: Bob McMullan draws attention to what Australia should do.
• The market to watch: many people believe that the 21st century will be China's. China is already transforming the global economic landscape, yet it will not be alone. In India, there is an economy with a potential to match or even exceed China in the longer run.
• China's provinces speak out; the Governor of Yunnan Province promotes investment to APEC heads: Yunnan--a piece of land with numerous business opportunities. Following are remarks by Mr Xu Rongkai, Governor of Yunnan Province, at the closing banquet of ABAC recently.
• Climate for change: the PRC's accession to the World Trade Organisation provides many lessons for other developing countries.
• Management challenges with banks in China: the pace of reform, sound corporate governance framework and management approach must take into account the environment in which the banks operate. The general health and sustainability of the economy requires more than just sound business acumen and political stability. The evolution of a strong and stable financial system is just as crucial.