Newsboard

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17 NOVEMBER 2010

SUBSCRIPTION UPDATE

Welcome to those companies who have joined waterAUSTRALIA since the last Newsboard. The number is growing and we are particularly pleased to see several prominent companies taking out Foundation Sponsorship. Of course, we equally make welcome our general subscribers.

Any subscribers who would like a link to their own website included on the waterAUSTRALIA site, could you please send me a jpeg of your company logo to CEO

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G’DAY USA

Austrade is once again organising a water program in conjunction with the G’Day USA promotion. Information is available at G’Day USA.

This is a great opportunity for companies currently active in the US market to ensure visibility among key customer groups, united under the waterAUSTRALIA brand and Australia’s successful water story. The US market has shown keen interest in our water management, which has been actively represented by US-based Austrade staff.

SMEs wishing to understand more about the US opportunities and to meet with key people from customer groups and potential business partners should also think carefully about participating. Austrade is offering participation at official water series events free of charge.

Additionally, waterAUSTRALIA’s CEO, Les Targ, and the Water Supplier Advocate, Bob Herbert, will both be attending to support the mission and the companies participating. Austrade, the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research through the Advocate and waterAUSTRALIA, are offering pre-mission support to all participating companies. This includes helping with presentation material, background briefings and assisting with side visits participants may wish to undertake to potential local partners. A superb brochure, which will include participants’ capability information is also being prepared as a handout to customer groups.

If you are interested in participating and have not yet registered with Austrade, time is running out – simply follow the link Register Now.

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SUPPLIER FORUMS

Most of the Industry Capability Network sponsored nationwide Supplier Forums have now been conducted. Each capital was provided with a presentation by respective state authorities as well as presentations by Bob Herbert (Water Supplier Advocate), Les Targ (CEO, waterAUSTRALIA) and Kevin Payne (ICN’s water sector domain specialist).

Overall, over 500 companies attended the six events, with the feedback from participants being very positive.

Apart from hearing presentations on current priorities and programs, participants had the opportunity for networking, exchanging information with industry colleagues and meeting new contacts. There was overwhelming support for an ongoing program of networking events in each capital.

This is a key part of the waterAUSTRALIA strategy and we will now turn our minds to holding events in each capital on a regular basis. We will involve relevant state governments in this dialogue.

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POSSIBLE MERGER WITH WATER INDUSTRY ALLIANCE

waterAUSTRALIA is progressing the idea of a merger with South Australia’s Water Industry Alliance with the recent signing of a Heads of Agreement. The Agreement creates a framework to negotiate a merger document and for members of both organisations to consider the proposal.

It is clear to the Board of waterAUSTRALIA that a national organisation is highly desirable. The Water Industry Alliance has been very successful in facilitating growth of sales by its members outside of South Australia and provides a range of services that waterAUSTRALIA believes would add great value to companies in other states. A merger, therefore, does seem to be an attractive option.

More news will be posted as it becomes available.