Australia: Business Opportunity

Australia is in the middle of a water supply panic. In my opinion, Australia is on the forefront of the water technology world, but they seem to think they can learn something here. Who am I to tell them otherwise? Maybe it is an opportunity for me to get work in a normal country, with decent and intelligent people, who appreciate and pay acceptable rates for good work. From Globes:

Three Australian state ministers and one shadow minister will lead an unprecedented high-level business delegation to Israel next week, focusing on water and conservation business opportunities. The trip, organized by the Israel-Australia Chamber of Commerce, will comprise over fifty senior players on the Australian business scene. The group will spend a week in Israel meeting with political, business, and technology leaders, as well as attending the WATEC Israel 2007 Conference. The Australian delegation is being led by Nathan Rees, MP, NSW Minister for Water Utilities, Tim Holding MP, Victorian Minister for Water and Craig Wallace MP, Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Water. The delegation also includes leaders of five different companies with a market cap above $1 billion, including Australian-based international mining giant Rio Tinto with a market cap of $100 billion. Australia, which enjoys significant bilateral trade with Israel, totaling some $750 million per year, is currently undergoing a severe drought and has implemented drastic water restrictions. In most areas of Australia, water storage levels are sitting at only 20-45% of their capacity.

The visiting delegation will be meeting with Israeli counterparts and exploring deals and agreements with a wide variety of Israeli companies and organizations involved in water conservation technologies. The New South Wales State Government recently commissioned a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Sydney and many Israeli companies are eager to offer their services. Similarly, the Victorian State Government in Australia has commissioned the world’s largest desalination plant for Melbourne. Currently, the world’s largest plant is located in Ashkelon, and the delegation will visit this site. According to the delegation’s leader, Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chairman Leon Kempler, “Australia and Israel share the unfortunate fate of having significant challenges to their water supplies. Israel has many companies that provide outstanding technology and solutions to water scarcity problems and this business delegation, the most senior ever to visit Israel, is keen to listen, learn and reach agreements.” During the visit, the ministers and various members of the delegation will be meeting with President Shimon Peres, Minister of National Infrastructures Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Labor Eli Yishai, Environment Minister Gideon Ezra, as well as a number of Members of Knesset.