For the first time, Sydney will play host this week to one of the world’s leading Chinese-speaking insurance sector events, the 2012 Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner, who will open the Congress tonight, said the choice of Sydney as host location was a show of confidence in the strong ties that exist between the NSW and Asian financial sectors.
“This is the first time this Congress has been held outside Asia, and the choice of Sydney as host city is a significant opportunity for the NSW and Asian financial sectors to build valuable connections, closer ties and greater mutual understanding,” Mr Stoner said.
“The Congress also represents an outstanding outcome for the efforts of Sydney’s convention bureau, Business Events Sydney, which pursued this strategic opportunity since 2005 and was instrumental in securing the event.
Mr Stoner said the emergence of Sydney as a leading Asia Pacific hub for the finance sector makes NSW an increasingly attractive destination for global financial companies.
“NSW is the undisputed home of Australia’s finance and insurance sector, and a major regional player in Asia,” Mr Stoner said.
Chairman of Insurance Marketing Management, organisers of the 2012 Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress, Tien Lung Liang said Sydney was a natural choice for the event.
“As one of the key objectives of the conference is to stimulate professional growth and to build international networks, Australia’s financial capital was a natural choice.
“IMM eagerly anticipates the new horizons that can be explored given that this is the first time the event is to be held in an English speaking country.”
Mr Stoner said the NSW Government’s number one priority is to restore economic growth in NSW and establish the State as the first place in Australia to do business.
“We are working with the private sector to boost opportunities for new investment in major infrastructure projects including Sydney’s new world class financial district, Barangaroo,” Mr Stoner said.
“The development will be an iconic location for financial services companies looking to make their mark on Australia and the Asia-Pacific.”
CEO of Business Events Sydney Lyn Lewis-Smith said, “BESydney saw value in the opportunities for our local industry and WWCLIC delegates to share knowledge, deepen understanding and build mutually beneficial relationships.
“Some of Australia’s largest trading partners are Asian countries, with NSW attracting US$10.8 billion of Chinese investment over the past six years.
“Recognising the importance of the event, we energetically pursued the opportunity to host it here in Sydney,” Ms Lewis-Smith said.
The 2012 Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress is the latest in a series of high-profile events from the financial services and banking sectors secured by BESydney in recent years, including:
. AIA Insurance Hong Kong Incentive 2010 – 3,250 delegates
. World Congress of the Bachelier Finance Society 2012 – 450 delegates
. Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress 2012 – 3,300 delegates
. AIA Thailand Annual Convention 2012 (travelling here in September) – 2,000
delegates
The 2012 Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress will be held from 9–12 August at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.
