The Australian pavilion business program
As part of Australia's ambitious expo agenda - matching its significant investment in the pavilion and China's position as Australia's largest trading partner - the Australian pavilion's dedicated VIP facility hosted 217 invitation-only events over the 184 days of the expo. An exciting program of events included targeted seminars, gala launches, high-level meetings, policy discussions and trade and investment promotions. Collectively, these events comprised the "business program". Around 16,000 guests attended business program events, with the aim of strengthening trade and investment, as well as institutional and people-to-people links with China and other international participants.
The business program is positioned to leverage existing Australia-China relationships in resources, energy and agriculture, while creating opportunities in new and niche areas of increasing importance to the growing and changing Chinese economy: such as legal, financial and business services; clean energy technology; automotives; urban design and infrastructure; and education, science and research. Events from all sectors were spread throughout the six months, rather than in sectoral blocks.
Business program events targeted selected audiences, including senior policy-makers, business people, academics and media. The business program enabled project stakeholders, including Commonwealth government agencies, state and territory partners and corporate sponsors, to leverage Australia's participation in the expo for specific policy and trade and investment outcomes.
The pavilion received over 8,000 VIP delegations from Australia, China and around the world including high level Chinese visitors such as President Hu Jintao and Vice Premier Li Keqiang. Senior Australian visitors to the pavilion included the Governor General Her Excellency Quentin Bryce AC; Treasurer the Hon Wayne Swan MP; Foreign Minister the Hon Kevin Rudd MP; the then trade minister, the Hon Simon Crean MP; and the then Foreign Minister, the Hon Stephen Smith MP.