Qld: All work, no sightseeing on trade mission: Bligh

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2009
Qld: All work, no sightseeing on trade mission: Bligh

By Jessica Marszalek

BRISBANE, April 24 AAP - Premier Anna Bligh says her coming trade mission to Europe
and the Middle East, accompanied by her husband, will be all work and no play.

Ms Bligh will lead a 13-day tour of the United Arab Emirates, Spain and Russia from
May 4, leaving Trade Minister Stephen Robertson to attend a biotechnology conference in
the US.

Her husband Greg Withers will accompany her as part of the official delegation, paid
for from the public purse.

Ms Bligh said the trip was important to shore up relationships with Queensland's trading
partners.

"The Queensland economy and the jobs of Queensland workers depend on exports," she
told reporters in Brisbane.

"I am going to fight every minute that I'm in this job to find more jobs for Queenslanders,
and that means being part of the world economy, and it means building our trade with other
countries."

The itinerary has not yet been revealed, but Ms Bligh said she would be busy working,
not sightseeing.

"This itinerary, like every itinerary undertaken, will be full-time work," she said.

"Of course I'm going to be in those cities and will look out the window of the car
as we drive past.

"This is a trade mission. The purpose of this is to build Queensland jobs."

The trade trip is supported by the Opposition.

In Abu Dhabi, the Queenslanders will focus on promoting agriculture, tourism, transport
and education services.

Ms Bligh said clean energy would be pushed in Spain on the state's first trade trip
to that country.

In Russia, the focus will be on agribusiness opportunities and promoting Queensland's
education services and prime beef exports.

AAP jmm/pjo/jl

KEYWORD: TRADE QLD

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