New Zealand suppliers are set to explore procurement opportunities linked to Brisbane 2032 through a dedicated trade mission as Australia and New Zealand commit to deepening their economic ties.
The mission was among the outcomes of the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ Meeting, held in Auckland on 4 September between New Zealand Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay and Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell.
The ministers also welcomed new measures to strengthen the Single Economic Market (SEM), which builds on the longstanding CER agreement and aims to make it easier for businesses, consumers and investors to operate across both countries.
The Games are expected to involve an estimated $15 billion program of investment and expenditure, with information published by business.gov.au putting the Brisbane 2032 procurement program at about $2.5 billion.
Key buying bodies include the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority, the Queensland Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee.
The procurement program is already underway, with more than 50 expressions of interest open across industries including technology, hospitality, logistics and event services.
Opportunities will extend beyond sporting infrastructure, spanning transport, construction, professional services and the wide range of goods and services required to stage the Games.
The announcement didn’t specify when the trade mission will take place or which organisation will lead it.
Ministers also welcomed a 30 percent increase in Joint Trans-Tasman Standards, enabled by a new Standards Development and Distribution Agreement and Statement of Operating Procedures signed by Standards New Zealand and Standards Australia.
Greater consistency between the two markets could reduce duplicated requirements for suppliers and make it easier for organisations to source across the Tasman.
A new program of business-government collaboration will put proposals from the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum into action, aiming to reduce the cost of doing business between the two countries.
The work will focus on regulatory coherence and common standards, supply chains, climate adaptation, defence industry collaboration, space, innovation and technology.
“We have taken on board feedback from the trans-Tasman business community and look forward to working with the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum to implement their proposals,” said McClay.
In their joint statement, the ministers also reaffirmed commitments under the Australia New Zealand Government Procurement Agreement, which supports a single competitive procurement market and a level playing field for Australian and New Zealand suppliers.
