Australia

A recent international comparative study, Doing Business in 2005, found that Australia is the most proficient country in the world for starting a business. In Australia, it takes two days, two procedures and less than 1% of annual income per capita to register a private limited liability company. This encourages entrepreneurs to set up their own businesses and start making a contribution to the Australian economy. By contrast, other countries in the Asia Pacific region and in Europe have much more complex business registration procedures.

The study also showed that in Australia it is relatively easy to enforce a contract, with only 11 procedures involved. The ease of enforcing a contract in Australia greatly reduces the cost and disruption to business should a dispute arise that requires court action.

Ease of Doing Business, 2005

Source: New South Wales Department of State and Regional Development

Agriculture

Australia offers enormous opportunities for foreign agribusiness investors - ranging from agrifood, textiles, clothing, footwear, leather and forestry products - so it helps to have guidance from experienced agribusiness specialists who can help you make an informed investment decision in Australia.

Forestry

Australia's forestry industry has adapted to environmental needs by adopting long term, sustainable forestry practices. These work in unison with Australia's forestry advantages:

-Extensive high quality, cost competitive resources.
-A long-term commitment to benefiting the forest products industry whilst also preserving Australia's native forest resources.
-An increasing volume of resources from softwood and hardwood plantations will create significant opportunities for investment in forest products processing.

Wine

The Australian wine industry is made up of approximately 1465 wineries. The majority of wineries are in the southeastern states of Australia (South Australia, Victoria and NSW). These three states account for 96.5% of total production with South Australia being the premier producing state accounting for over half of the country's production.

Even though there are a high number of wineries just twenty dominate the industry accounting for a 94% share of total production. The four major players in the industry are Southcorp, Beringer Blass (Fosters), BRL Hardy and Orlando Wyndham. Together they account for a combined 75.4% of the market share.

Aquaculture

Australia has earned a worldwide reputation as a supplier of premium quality, clean and green fisheries and aquaculture products. The waters used for farming are some of the cleanest in the world. Our farmers use innovative, ecologically sustainable production practices and management technologies. Australia also delivers the benefits of improved production and quality because of our disease-free status compared to that of other countries.
Aquaculture is Australia's fastest growing primary industry, increasing in value by an average of 13% per year.
The Australian aquaculture industry has set itself the ambitious goal of achieveing annual sales of $ 2.5 billion by 2010.

Biotechnology

Australia is highly regarded within the global company as a centre of excellence for medical science, financial services, information technology and manufacturing. We will now have a key role in assisting the development of knowledge and skills in these and other key areas of the business.'

Agribiotech

Australia is ploughing forward with new technologies to reap the biotech harvest.

Australia is helping the world to capture the benefits from the agribiotech revolution.

With Australian research at the forefront of agribiotech - fostered by strong government support - many international companies and investors are turning to Australia to harness the opportunities that biotechnology has created for agriculture.Agriculture has always been one of Australia's key industries, with gross production worth around A$38 billion annually.

Australian agriculture has consistently held a worldwide reputation for excellence, efficiency and competitiveness, partly as a result of the sector's readiness to adopt new technologies, and be at the forefront of modern agricultural R&D.

Agribiotech is a highly active field of research in Australia. Many advances are being made by private and public research centres, as well as Australian companies, to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of agriculture increasing yields and productivity, lowering production costs and improving animal breeding.

Biomedical

From the discovery and development of penicillin to the cochlear implant and bionic ear, the first mapped enzyme and the world's fastest AIDS test, and the development of the computerised detection of cancerous cells, Australian researchers have a long history of creating breakthroughs that change medical history.

Australia has excellent government funded research, one of the best health systems in the world, a sophisticated and skilled work force, good recruitment levels for clinical trials and low costs, so it is an ideal location for medical R&D and commercialisation of new products.

Substantial funding support is provided through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Research Council (ARC), Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs), the Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF), and the START suite of programs. Similar programs also operate at the state government level.

Substantial funding support is provided through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Research Council (ARC), Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs), the Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF), and the START suite of programs. Similar programs also operate at the state government level.

Australia has an enviable reputation as a reliable energy supplier to markets in Asia, Europe and the US.Australia offers a high level of certainty to existing and potential investors, thereby creating confidence in the investment climate in Australia.

Financial Services in Australia

Australia has an enviable reputation as a reliable energy supplier to markets in Asia, Europe and the US.Australia offers a high level of certainty to existing and potential investors, thereby creating confidence in the investment climate in Australia.

ICT

Australia has a world-class ICT sector that has provided substantial investment returns for foreign investors. Information on the ICT sector's key areas of strength and the considerable advantages that have put Australia in front of the pack for developing emerging technologies is included here.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is Australia's largest export earner. Over 1 million Australians are now working in manufacturing a technologically advanced and globally competitive sector of the Australian economy.The manufacturing industry has made significant efficiency gains in recent years through tariff reform, investment in new technology and competitive industrial relations practices.

Minerals

Australia has the world's largest economic demonstrated resources (EDR) of:

• Lead (17.2 Mt, 25 per cent of world EDR);
  
• Mineral sands (ilmenite 198 Mt, 32 per cent world EDR; rutile 23.5 Mt, 46 per cent
• world EDR; zircon 29 Mt, 40 per cent world EDR);
  
• Nickel (22.2 Mt, 36 per cent world EDR);
  
• Tantalum (39.2 Mt, 93 per cent world EDR);
  
• Uranium (689 kt, 44 per cent world EDR); and
  
• Zinc (33.2 Mt, 17 per cent world EDR).

Australia is also in the top six for each of the following resources:

• Bauxite (4.8 Gt, 22 per cent world EDR);
  
• Cobalt (1442 kt, 21 per cent world EDR);
  
• Copper (32.8 Mt, 7 per cent world EDR);
  
• Gold (5,415 t, 13 per cent world EDR);
  
• Iron ore (13 Gt, 9 per cent world EDR);
  
• Lithium (171 kt, 4.5 per cent world EDR);
  
• Manganese ore (127 Mt, 7.6 per cent world EDR);
  
• Rare earth oxides (0.3 Mt, 0.3 per cent world EDR)
  and
  
• Gem/near gem diamonds (137.4 million carats, 24 per cent world EDR).
  
• 60 per cent of world mines use Australian software
  

Nanotechnology

The Australian Government is prioritising and fostering leading edge nanotechnology research and commercialisation through its $A3 billion innovation strategy, Backing Australia's Ability. This funding provides long-term support for Australia's well established multidisciplinary research and development infrastructure, a key competitive advantage for Australian nanotechnology. Combined with State/Territory Government and private entities (both Australian and international), in the vicinity of A$100m in funding is being channelled into the development of world class Australian nanotechnology.

Source: Invest Australia