|
|
The Victorian Government’s State Minister for Industry and Trade, the Hon Jacinta Allan, welcomed the delegates to Melbourne for the first round of discussions of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
The TPP discussions, under the instigation of the United States, are designed to set a standard for wider regional economic integration that all other APEC economies can follow. Delegates from Australia, the United States, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam had an opportunity to meet with diplomats, state government representatives and industry representatives from institutions like National Bank of Australia, Ernst & Young, Origin Energy, BHP Billiton, ITS Global, the Business Council of Australia, the Plenary Group and academia from RMIT University.
The Australian APEC Study Centre at RMIT University, together with the Victorian Government and with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, hosted a Welcome Reception at a State Government venue with sweeping views of the Melbourne CBD.
Minister Allan noted that the State Government was pleased to partner in hosting the reception because Victoria has “consistently advocated for deepening engagement with countries across the Asia Pacific to open up greater trade, investment and partnerships”. The ties are strong, and the reception helped to further strengthen them.
Alan Oxley, Chairman of the Australian APEC Study Centre, maintained that a successful agreement would work to promote an integrated regional economy that would produce prosperity and end poverty.
Photography by Laki Sideris
|
