PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 27 April 1987
JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE MINISTER
FOR TRADE, THE HON J S DAWKINS
The Minister for Trade and I today congratulated the Sydney
company Macdonald Wagner on its recent success in winning a
major consulting contract associated with a massive $ 300m
port redevelopment project at Bahia Blanca in Argentina.
The success of Macdonald Wagner in winning the contract is
an example that other Australian consulting firms should
seek to emulate. Trade in services is a rapidly growing
area of world trade. Consultancy services is an area where
Australia clearly has the expertise and the ability to
compete internationally.
Macdonald Wagner has shown great drive and initiative in
pursuing the project. It was able to secure the project
ahead of competition from the USSR, Canada, the US, Holland,
France and Italy. This reflects the ability of this company
as well as the unprecedented competitiveness of Australian
industry. A
The success achieved by Macdonald Wagner has not been easily
secured. The company has worked consistently since June
1983 to secure the project.
Just as Macdonald Wagner has done, exporters must show a
commitment to exports if they are to succeed on overseas
markets. Exports, whether in goods or services, should not
be seen as something a company dabbles in when it has excess
capacity. Such an approach is both unlikely to be
successful and damage Australia's reputation in overseas
markets. We note that overseas projects such as this also have the
potential to link in other Australian industry through the
supply of capital equipment and other services.
Mr Tony Denham, Managing Director, and Mr Andrew Murray,
Marketing Manager, will be available for interview in Senate
3 at 2.00pm.
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