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April 2019

 
Message from AmCham CEO April Palmerlee

AmCham is all about the two-way trade and investment relationship between Australia and the United States. This month I’d like to draw your attention to investment into Australia. In months ahead I’ll turn to outbound investment to the USA.

 

In March 2019, we surveyed almost 500 AmCham leaders, asking about the commitment of US MNCs to Australia. The results were clear: in the past five years, 85% of member companies responding have invested in Australia. Of those that have invested, more than a third have invested over $10 million. More importantly, this commitment continues to be reflected in future planning. Over 90% of surveyed members are planning to increase their operations in Australia over the next five years, 94% are planning to increase the number of employees in Australia, and 91% are planning to undertake new projects. These figures indicate substantial long-term investment in Australia, including increasing the number of jobs and financial investment, is a high priority for US MNCs.

We delved further into this theme with the new US Ambassador to Australia, A. B. Culvahouse, as he visited with AmCham members at events around the country. In Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra, we have discussed his priorities:

  • To make sure the alliance between our countries remains strong;
  • To work with Australia to help ensure the prosperity, security, and sovereignty of the Indo-Pacific; and
  • To ensure that the U.S.-Australia economic partnership continues to drive prosperity in both countries.

He will continue to engage with AmCham members across the country throughout the year to discuss:

  • How government and business leaders in both countries can collaborate to increase investment, expand trade, and promote more research and development cooperation;
  • How to increase the number of good-paying jobs in Australia and the United States that will build skills and strengthen local communities and the bilateral relationship; and
  • How to inspire young Australians and Americans to follow their dreams to work, study, travel, and experience life in the other’s countries.

AmCham members also discussed trade and investment with the new Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce, Richard Weisman of Baker McKenzie when he visited Sydney.

Participants in the AmCham Academy in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide have also been examining the bilateral economic relationship in their meetings with global leaders and experts.

Sydney NSW

Melbourne VIC

Perth WA

Adelaide SA

I’m also pleased to include in this month’s newsletter a round up of the AmCham committees who are working hard behind the scenes to make sure AmCham is represented when policies are being considered, new laws tabled, and exciting opportunities floated. If you would like to to join a committee, please contact . Please to read the 1st Quarter 2019 Committee Report.

 

And, finally, I will be headed to the US in June to attend Select USA - the U.S. Department of Commerce-led program to promote and facilitate business investment into the United States. SelectUSA’s mission is to facilitate job-creating business investment into the United States and raise awareness of the critical role that foreign direct investment (FDI) plays in the U.S. economy. If your company is committed to entering the U.S. market the Summit is a “must-do” activity – the Summit will help your company, make connections and get started on business deals. .

 

 

Thank you for your ongoing support,

 

April Palmerlee, Chief Executive Officer

American Chamber of Commerce in Australia

E

P 02 8031 9000

A warm welcome to our newest members

I’m delighted to welcome these new members and here are links to their websites:



Upcoming Events

AmCham QLD - Brisbane

REVEALING QUEENSLAND'S ECONOMIC DRIVERS OF GROWTH

Queensland has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a breakaway state that built its foundations on soil and hard toil. The world economic order is changing, bringing with it both challenges and opportunities for Queensland.

 

How can we lift productivity in a way that sustains economic growth, improves living standards and balances the natural environment?

 

Panel of Speakers:

  • Dr Matthew Peter, Chief Economist, QIC Ltd
  • Erin Strang, Treasurer - Banking and Wealth, Suncorp Group
  • John Kettle, Partner, McCullough Robertson
  • Cr Krista Adams, Deputy Mayor, Chairman of the Finance and Economic Development Committee, Brisbane City Council
  • Panel discussion facilitated by Kristin Devitt, Director, KDPR

Business Luncheon

Tuesday 30 April 2019

11.30am - 2pm

The Westin Brisbane

AmCham WA - Perth

EDGE TO EDGE INTELLIGENCE-THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY

Join AmCham to hear from our panel of leaders in the technology sector discuss digital transformation and how the rise of edge-to-edge intelligence is shaping the future of your industry and business.

 

Discover what your top digital priorities should be and whether your business can ultimately evolve to innovate and disrupt.

 

Panel of Speakers:

  • Brent Barton, Director of Sales – Australia, Equinix
  • David Merceron, Director - Digital & Technology, KPMG
  • Srini Raghuram – Director of Solutions Engineering And Architecture APAC, AT&T Cybersecurity
  • David Pare, Chief Technology Officer ANZ, DXC Healthcare
  • Moderated by Martin Creighan, Managing Director ANZ, AT&T

Sponsorship opportunities available!

Business Luncheon

Tuesday 14 May 2019

12pm - 2pm

Parmelia Hilton Perth

AmCham NSW - Sydney

BUSINESS BRIEFING WITH JAYNE HRDLICKA

Jayne Hrdlicka, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, The a2 Milk Company

 

Shares in The a2 Milk Company soared to an all-time high on the back of the release of their Interim 2019 Report, and an upgraded outlook on the back of continued growth of milk products in China.

 

“a2 now has a market value higher than Crown Resorts, Medibank Private, Lendlease Caltex, Orica, AMP, Coca-Cola Amatil and Seek. It's twice as big as Flight Centre and Harvey Norman. Not bad for a company that listed in March 2015. And pretty amazing for a business that, when it’s all said and done, has basically found a way to repackage a commodity that has not really changed for hundreds of years”

 

Ms Hrdlicka will lead the business through its next phase of growth and will be speaking with AmCham about the success of the a2 Milk Company, and her vision for the company’s future in a complex global marketplace.

Business Luncheon

Wednesday 22 May 2019

12pm - 2pm

Sydney CBD

AmCham SA - Adelaide

INFRASTRUCTURE: DRIVING BUSINESS AND ACCELERATING GROWTH

Does SA have the infrastructure – ports, roads, broadband access, and more….. to help business thrive? Our leaders are promising new growth and jobs through industries such as space and defence, and skilled migration to deliver on projects. Are the supports in place to deliver long-term economic goals - without compromising quality of life?

 

Panel of Speakers:

  • Hon Stephan Knoll MP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government & Planning
  • Clare Boan, Mayor, City of Port Adelaide Enfield
  • Nikki Govan, Chair, Business SA

 

Business Luncheon

Friday 24 May 2019

11.45am - 2pm

Adelaide Convention Centre

AmCham VIC - Melbourne

AGRICULTURE TECH & INNOVATION

The Ag 4.0 revolution offers enormous opportunities for Australia's agriculture, food and agtech sectors. Please join our expert panellists for their views on what the opportunities are; the challenges to realising those opportunities; and how Australia can play a leading role in the Ag 4.0 revolution.

  • Hugh Killen, Managing Director and CEO, AACo
  • Dr Christoph Rudiger, Senior Lecturer, Deputy Director in Research Training, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University (also the Academic Director of the AgTech LaunchPad, a joint initiative of Monash University & Bosch)
  • Justin Webb, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, AgriWebb
  • Panel facilitated by Franki Ganter, Partner, Allens

Business Luncheon

Thursday 30 May 2019

12pm - 2pm

Allens Melbourne


Upcoming Trade Missions and Delegations


Premium Network News

Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines

AmCham's 2019 Official Travel Partner

 

Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines together, proudly serve more than 204 million customers annually through their extensive and integrated network of destinations. Operating 25 flights per week, connecting over 45 destinations in Australia and New Zealand with over 250 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

 

Through our partnership, we go above and beyond to deliver a world-class travel experience. Whether travelling for business or leisure, enjoy an unrivalled business class experience, with lie-flat beds, direct aisle access, chef-curated menus and luxury amenities. It’s everything business travel should be.

 

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3M

How do we inspire the world to see the impact of science?

 

3M CEO Mike Roman sits down with Katie Couric to discuss the 2019 ‘State of Science’ findings. Watch the full video here:

 

CBRE

#WeAreCBRE

 

How does CBRE build advantage? It starts with their people, their culture, communities and their ideas. CBRE recently launched an AUNZ Instagram account dedicated to their people. to learn more about the CBRE story.

 



Become a Member


AmCham Logo

The American Chamber of Commerce in Australia

Website | ABN 62 000 361 633

SYDNEY/CANBERRA

02 8031 9000

MELBOURNE

03 9027 5633

ADELAIDE

08 8212 4688

BRISBANE

07 3220 2478

PERTH/DARWIN

08 9325 9540

Podcasts

Posted on 3/04/2018

How Business Really Works: Digital Journey with Moe Ali

What's new in technology and how can your business stay ahead of the game? Moe Ali, Group Vice President of Gartner ANZ, talks to Duff about cyber-security, the importance of incorporating technology insights and information to the core of business m

Listen now