Team Australia leader Al Uzubalis with CEO of Australian tactical helimat manufacturer CGEAR, Greg Peters and Head of Australian Defence Staff Washington, Rear Admiral Raydon Gates at the Invest Australia reception
Australian defence industry representatives have displayed a broad range of products to potential United States customers at a Team Australia Defence Industry Expo in October.
The exposition, hosted by Defence Materiel Organisation at the Australian Embassy in Washington DC, coincided with the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual General Meeting and Expo which was being held at the nearby Washington Convention Centre from 9 to 11 October.
Unable to secure floor space at AUSA, Team Australia organised the alternate exhibition for sixteen Australian companies.
Delegates at AUSA were shuttled from the Washington Convention Center to the Australian Embassy to view the Australian industry expo. Team Australia arranged rides in the Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle and Australian beverages to entice key decision makers to visit the Embassy exhibition.
The Australian products on display included communications equipment, personal protection items, weapon systems, unmanned aerial vehicles and consultancy services.
Victorian based companies received financial support from their state government to participate in the Team Australia expo and the South Australian Government used the expo to promote investment opportunities in that state.
The organisers of the Avalon Airshow also took advantage of the exposure provided by the Team Australia expo to advertise next year’s March 20 to 25 event.
The Australian exposition was possible because of the support of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; The Australian Ambassador, Mr Dennis Richardson; the Head of the Australian Defence Staff – Washington, Rear Admiral Raydon Gates; and Invest Australia, an arm of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.
Invest Australia got the event off to a good start by facilitating a briefing session on the first evening. Around 150 invited guests from government and industry heard from Rear Admiral Gates; Defence Materiel Advocate, Major General Jim Molan; the Deputy Premier of South Australia , Mr Kevin Foley; and Counsellor Defence Materiel, Mr Mark Reynolds.
Entrance to Team Australia Defence Industry Expo at the Washington Embassy |
