Australia: a destination full of promise

A Monaco Economic Board (MEB) delegation was in Sydney and Melbourne 23-30 June on a promotion and reconnaissance mission to make new contacts and assess the potential of this destination for the Principality. It was arranged to coincide with the Ballets de Monte-Carlo’s tour and the Destination Monaco Office in Australia.

Although remote and relatively sparsely populated given the size of its territory, Australia is a thriving dynamic country with a wealth of natural resources, close to a booming Asia region.

For the MEB delegation* it was an opportunity to tap into networks in the country’s two main business metropolises in collaboration with the Destination Monaco Office, and the invaluable assistance of Monaco Consuls in Australia, Hadrien Bourely in Sydney and Andrew Cannon in Melbourne.  A meeting was also arranged with Richard Worth, Monaco Consul in New Zealand who crossed the water for the occasion.

Meetings were held with key players in the business world to generate both intermediary and decision-making contacts, including particularly constructive ones with the New South Wales and Victoria Chambers of Commerce. Discussions highlighted potential synergies between the two countries in international trade, and in the hi-tech, renewable energy and yachting sectors. Other points of convergence following the discussions can be followed up now contact has been established.

Lastly, EY, which has a strong presence in Australia and organises the annual World Entrepreneur of the Year, offered to support future actions by Monaco in the Pacific region.

On Thursday 27th, the delegation seized the opportunity to attend a performance by the Ballets de Monte-Carlo at the Melbourne Arts Centre, an exceptional evening showcasing this talented group led by Jean-Christophe Maillot. The cocktail that followed was another chance to meet new people in an exclusive and friendly atmosphere.

Throughout the trip, presentations made on business opportunities in Monaco generated a lot of interest, and it was clear that an MEB Trade Mission to Australia and/or Monaco hosting a delegation from Australia would be relevant.

The MEB will now work with its partners to decide on the best way to offer members these unparalleled development opportunities.

During the course of these missions, it is now clear that synergies between Monaco companies operating abroad are the most effective way of maximising the impact of everyone’s actions. This trip achieved the MEB’s objective thanks to the diplomatic and consular network, the Ballets de Monte-Carlo and Destination Monaco Office representatives in Australia.

*Guillaume Rose, MEB Executive Director General, Justin Highman, Director Monaco Invest and Diego Bonaventura, Director Monaco Chamber of Commerce.

Meeting with the Victoria CCI, attended by Andrew Cannon, Monaco’s Consul in Melbourne

Meeting with New South Wales CCI, attended by Hadrien Bourely, Monaco’s Consul in Sydney

MEB delegation with Jean-Christophe Maillot, Director Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Andrew Cannon, Monaco Consul in Melbourne and Alison Roberts-Brown, Director of the Destination Monaco Office in Australia after a performance of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo’s Swan Lake