Ex-PM Hawke to lead Australian mission to Oman

Australia Gulf Council (AGC) announced that its forthcoming business mission to Gulf states, including Oman, will be jointly led by former prime minister Bob Hawke, former deputy prime minister Hon Mark Vaile and Senator Nicholas Sherry.

AGC chief executive Michael Yabsley confirmed that the mission, from February 24 to March 1, will visit Oman, Qatar and UAE with 18 delegates from leading companies with a direct interest in the trade and investment relationship between Australia and the Gulf. The mission will engage directly with corporate and government leaders in the region.

Yabsley said, “The business mission is a powerful statement about the importance of the relationship between Australia and the Gulf states, underlined by the seniority of leadership by Bob Hawke, Mark Vaile and Nicholas Sherry and the commercial standing of the Australia sectors and companies participating.”

Australia’s total trade with the Gulf states, including imports and exports, rose to AU$8.74bn (US$9.33bn) in 2010 from AU$2.37bn in 1985. The AGC was established in 2010 to recognise and nurture the relationship between Australia and Gulf states.