On a beautiful warm winter’s day in August on Sydney Harbour, a large and appreciative crowd gathered at the Hyatt Regency for lunch with the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian.
The German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce teamed up with other Sydney based chambers of industry and event sponsor Optus Business to invite the Premier to the event.
The Premier addressed the 600 strong crowd about the strength of the NSW economy and used the opportunity to encourage the many countries represented in the room to invest in NSW. She emphasised the importance of her state’s AAA credit rating because it is one of very few state governments in the world to hold it.
Her address also promoted the new opportunities for foreign investment made possible by the construction of Sydney’s second airport in Badgery’s Creek.
She was clearly looking forward to her upcoming trip (11- 16 August) to the UK and Germany where she will focus on trade and investment and specifically the opportunities for investment as a result of the new airport. She emphasised the NSW-Germany relationship a number of times during her speech and remarked upon the importance of Germany as a gateway to Europe for Australia after Brexit.
After the Premier’s prepared speech she answered questions from Sky News Business Editor, Ticky Fullerton, in a fireside-style chat (without the fire due to 22 degree weather). The Premier was gracious and adept at handling some difficult questions from Ms Fullerton and from the audience.
The Premier offered to follow up with the Latin-American based chambers to establish a formal dialogue between them and her government about two-way investment opportunities.
The German – Australian Chamber staff attending the lunch took the opportunity to establish a personal dialogue with the Premier and her Chief of Staff who attended the event and to offer the Chamber’s support and assistance for her trip to Germany where required.
The German-Australian Chamber would like to thank the participants from member companies for their active involvement and acknowledge its partners in bringing together this important event: The American Chamber, the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, the Australia-Brazil Chamber of Commerce, the French –Australian Chamber of Commerce, the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Spanish-Australian Chamber of Commerce, the Australia-Latin America Business Council and the Australia-Peru Chamber of Commerce.