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Why expand to Australia?

You know that amazing feeling of being in the right place at the right moment. That satisfaction of thriving while others fall behind. Despite all the difficulties of the current economic downturn, who has decided to start up a business or to expand an existing one in Australia in the last years must have felt that. A feeling that is not fading away: many companies which have registered a business in Australia in the last two years are growing steadily.

The fact that only 25 millions people live in 3 million square miles (more then three hundred times the UK) says very little about the potential and the reality of the Australian market. Business is not always a matter of numbers. Think about space. And geography. And purchasing power and ecomonic strength.

If you are thinking about starting a business in Australia, you should know that Australia is the passport for the Asian and Pacific markets, both established and emerging realities composed of hundreds of millions of potential consumers. They live in countries that are - or are set to become - strong importers. The area, known as the Pacific Rim, is an almost compulsory target for any solid UK company's export strategy. According to many economists, China's continued growth holds the key to the development of Australian market for the decades to come.

The Australian economy enjoys a competitive advantage in producing and processing primary products due to an abundance of natural resources together with a world class transport and telecommunications infrastructure.

Major Australian exports are wool, cotton, meat and rice. The country is also an international source of minerals and mining is one of the most important industries in the country. Japan is Australia's largest export market, followed by China, the United States, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand.

What's the attraction for a UK business?

Sometimes the idea of setting up a business in Australia - on the other side of the world - may sound scary. Cultural adaptation, language barriers and differences in the business etiquettes are often tough limitations. Choosing Australia as a new environment for your business will let you bypass these problems all together.

The UK sells more to Australia than to India or China, and Australia is the UKs 5th largest market for goods outside the EU. The UK and Australia are politically and economically linked. They are close partners in international affairs. They share common legal systems, language and structures of society. Materials and communications require little adjustment as technical standards are often similar, which is particularly important for the engineering and industrial areas. Australians will even get your jokes (maybe!). OK, they dont like tea as we do, but there is still time to persuade them. There's a lot of conversation to do if you are setting up a business in Australia.

Business Opportunities

Sectors identified as offering significant opportunities for British companies expanding or licensing a business in Australia, are:

• Agriculture: Wheat is the product with the greatest production and value to the Australian economy. The high rainfall zone of Tasmania may offer chances in the dairying and beef production
• Mining: More than half of the exported iron ore goes to China. Nickel, gold, diamond, uranium, zinc and coal are developed and interesting markets. Particularly significant areas are the Goldfields and Pilbara regions of Western Australia. The sector is very technologically advanced: services, equipment and technology exports are over AUD $2 billion annually.
• Oil and Gas: Australia is the 28th largest producer of petroleum. Natural gas extraction is expanding.
• Information and Communication Technology: It is a driving force behind Australian economy. The Australian Information Industry Association (www.aiia.com.au) provides companies with tools, advisory services and market intelligence to accelerate business growth. In parallel, integrating innovative digital strategies, especially in the highly competitive online landscape, is crucial for businesses seeking to establish a strong presence in the Australian market. Harnessing the expertise of seasoned digital marketing professionals can be a game-changer in navigating the complexities of online visibility and consumer engagement.
• Biotechnology: There is a dramatic increase in interest in the potential of this industry. Scientists have pioneered various researches in Australia.
• Creative and Media: High-qualified personnel and a competent audience suggest the Australian can be a valuable market to test products.
• Marine and Railways
• Food and Drink
• Recreation and Leisure
• Aerospace: The Avalon Australian International Aerospace & Defence Exposition is a signal that the sector is expanding

The major cities, mainly concentrated on the coasts, are the best places to start up a business in Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide are the biggest. Mind that Australia has huge desert areas at the centre of the continent: the further from coasts you go, the less you get. Mining regions are Goldfields and Pilbara, the Hunter Valley, the Bower Basin and Latrobe Valley.

Challenges

The commercial environment is regarded as exceptionally friendly and attractive to companies registering a business in Australia, with room for growth. The challenges are those of any business in the Western countries. As we have seen, as UK investors you won't have to alter your business mindset too much when expanding or licensing a business in Australia. However, remember that the country do have its own standards and not all products as they are used in the UK are suitable for Australians. "Australianise" is the keyword businessmen use to explain how to successfully start a business in Australia.

A second challenge is the way out of recession. After almost two decades of continuous economic growth, the recovery from the international crisis might be slow and fragile. Be patient.

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