Hong Kong business urged to choose Australia’s new world city
Hong Kong--ASIA TODAY / Media OutReach--20 March 2013--Australia's new world city, Brisbane, has declared today 'Brisbane Day' in Hong Kong to draw attention to the launch of its bold new campaign urging local business to consider Brisbane when looking to do business in Australia.
The Choose Brisbane campaign, by economic development board Brisbane Marketing, invites Hong Kong and Chinese decision-makers to consider Brisbane for business and investment, study and conventions.
Unveiled at an Australian Chamber of Commerce 'Brisbane Day' event today, Choose Brisbane is the city's first international business brand campaign and capitalises on the already strong links between Hong Kong and Brisbane.
Speaking at the launch, Brisbane Marketing Chairman Ian Klug said Hong Kong was selected as the first city for the campaign because of the well-established business, trade, research, social, education and cultural ties.
"Like Hong Kong, Brisbane is a new world city," he said.
"We are the closest Australian state capital city on the eastern seaboard to Asia and were recently named one of the Top 10 Asian Cities of the Future by the London Financial Times fDi Magazine.
"Brisbane was chosen to host the 2014 G20 Leaders Summit and we are headquarters to more than 170 of the world's leading mining and energy companies.
"We offer an innovative and diverse business environment, a highly skilled workforce, excellent infrastructure, a similar climate to Hong Kong, world-class educational facilities and a safe, clean environment.
"Mandarin is the second most-spoken language in Brisbane, followed by Cantonese, while statistics from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office reveal that 28 percent of Chinese investments in Australia are in Queensland."
Mr Klug said locals could expect to start seeing distinctive Brisbane ads in business magazines and bus shelters featuring world leaders at G20; renowned bioengineer, Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Queensland and Director of the Australian Institute of Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Professor Max Lu; artwork featured at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art and International News Shanghai anchor and Asia Pacific Screen Awards host Chen Lei.
The anchor of the campaign is a detailed website www.choosebrisbane.com with information about what Brisbane offers Hong Kong and Chinese investors, students and convention organisers.
"Brisbane's booming economy, worth $US118 billion, is expected to virtually double by 2031 to $US223 billion," Mr Klug said.
"Brisbane was recently ranked the fourth most sought-after location for hotel investment in the world in the Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels' Hotel Investor Sentiment Survey.
"Aside from mining and real estate, our growth industries include biotechnology, aviation, food and agribusiness, manufacturing and construction.
"Our capacity to accommodate the 2014 G20 Leaders Summit is testament to our world-class convention facilities while our educational institutions cater for thousands of international students including large numbers from China and Hong Kong.
"Brisbane has a growing global reputation as an Australasian centre of excellence for science and technology, attracting international collaborations from industry and research institutes worldwide.
"Another bonus for students is that many companies in Brisbane offer internship and graduate programs which embrace cross-cultural skills.
"From Hong Kong the Choose Brisbane campaign will extend into mainland Chinese cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Its success in Hong Kong and China will provide us with a template to launch similar campaigns worldwide."
Visit www.choosebrisbane.com to find out more.
Brisbane Facts:
• Brisbane is Australia's new world city.
• Brisbane's booming economy, worth $US118 billion, is expected to virtually double by 2031 to $US223 billion.
• Brisbane is a young, vibrant and multicultural city.
• Located on the eastern seaboard of Australia with latitude of almost 28 degrees south and a longitude of roughly 153 degrees east, Brisbane enjoys closer proximity to Asia than any other Australian capital city.
• Brisbane has a population of more than 2 million, set to rise to 3.9 million by 2056.
• Mandarin is the second most common language spoken at home.
• The largest demographic in Brisbane is aged between 24 and 40.
• More than a quarter of Brisbane residents were born overseas.
• Brisbane was named one of the Top 10 Asian Cities of the Future by the London Financial Times fDi Magazine.
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