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Business View Australia - February 2015 11
trade and investment ties.
This has helped position Australia to play an impor-
tant role in the region’s ongoing development.
Australia remains a top destination for foreign in-
vestment and for overseas visitors.
Australia also provides a useful bridge across the
world’s major time zones, offering 24-hour access
for global organisations and a quality of life that is
well regarded around the world.
Doing business in Australia is easy. With one of the
most transparent and well regulated business en-
vironments in the world, Australia’s political stabil-
ity and regulatory framework provide investors with
confidence and security. For six years in a row, Aus-
tralia has ranked third on the Index of Economic
Freedom.
The country has a sophisticated financial sector
that offers access to the world’s third largest pool
of investment funds and one of the region’s largest
pools of bank assets.
More than 18,000 foreign companies are registered
in Australia, including 18 of the Top 20 FT Global
500 companies and eight of the Top 10 Fortune
100.
The Australian Trade Commission – Aus-
trade – contributes to Australia’s economic
prosperity by helping Australian businesses,
education institutions, tourism operators,
governments and citizens as they:
• develop international markets
• win productive foreign direct investment
• promote international education
• strengthen Australia’s tourism industry
• seek consular and passport services.
Austrade helps companies around the world
to identify and take up investment opportu-
nities in Australia as well as to source Aus-
tralian goods and services. Our assistance
includes:
•
providing insight on Australian capabili-
ties
•
identifying potential investment projects
and strategic alliance partners
•
helping you to identify and contact Austra-
lian suppliers.