Will Australian-based business organisations use government funds to push in to Asia to compete with local Australian organisations such as Chambers of Commerce and Business Councils?
The
Australian government intends to offer grants
ranging from $25,000 to $300,000 to “assist member-based business organisations
harness commercial opportunities in Asia for small to medium sized Australian
businesses”.
The Asian
Century Business Engagement (ACBE) plan is a four-year program that will run
from 1 July 2013. Final guidelines have not yet been released but the key goals
are to expand the capability of the business groups to
- assist Australian firms access in-market business networks more effectively and develop relationships with business contacts in Asian countries;
- identify and secure more opportunities for Australian firms in regional value chains in Asia;
- strengthen business links between Australia and Asia;
- influence corporate Australia to initiate closer engagement with Asia;
- raise the profile of Australian business capability in Asia; and,
- increase awareness of Australia in Asia, and of Asia in Australia.
However, eligible
participants may also be, in their own right, “Australian business
chambers based in Asian cities [which are] appropriately registered with local business authorities and provide a letter from the relevant Australian diplomatic or
consular mission confirming that the organisation in question is actively
involved in promoting networking and business promotion among Australian
members and local companies.”