AUSTRALIA’s biggest ever trade mission to India will formally commence today, beginning a week-long series of events designed to enhance trade, education, investment and tourism ties with the world’s third-largest economy.

Australia Business Week in India (ABWI) will see more than 450 business leaders visit India’s major cities to meet their Indian counterparts. The mission also incorporated participation in yesterday’s Vibrant Gujarat 2015 summit.

Bruce Gosper, CEO of Austrade, said, “This trade mission is an important way to inform India’s business community about Australia’s commercial strengths and for our nation’s business people to get a closer look at what India has to offer.

“The sheer size of the mission makes it an important step in Australia’s ongoing efforts to develop trade, investment, education and tourism ties with India,” he said.

Led by Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb, the mission was organised by Austrade and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

“The response to this mission has been impressive and indicates that Australian business is aware of the opportunities and interested in engaging with India in a commercial sense,” Mr Gosper said.

“What is important about ABWI is that business people will get the chance to meet their counterparts face to face, a type of engagement that helps identify real commercial outcomes.”

Nicola Watkinson, Austrade’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for South Asia, said ABWI delegates would visit multiple cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata Chandigarh, Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Ludhiana. They would meet leading representatives of India’s business community and attend a series of high-level investment roundtables.

“The delegates represent a significant cross section of Australian industry in areas identified as having the best opportunities in the Indian market. These include resources and energy, tourism, infrastructure, transport, agribusiness and food, financial services, health and medical, as well as education and training,” she said.

"Australia has strong capabilities which can help India better utilise its natural resources, increase water, food and energy security, and serve its changing demography and increasingly affluent population.

"India is looking for ways to improve its innovation output and Australia’s world-class education system and strong innovation credentials can help.”

ABWI follows the successful trade mission to China in April last year, Australia Week in China (AWIC), which was also coordinated by Austrade and DFAT.

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said the seasonally adjusted rise (0.1 percent increase) in monthly retail trade figures (month-on-month) reported today by the ABS followed a 0.4 percent rise in October 2014.

While November’s month on month growth was disappointing, year on year retail growth rose 5 percent (seasonally adjusted, compared to November 2013) - a positive sign for the retail industry.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said retailers remain hopeful that the ARA and Roy Morgan predicted pre-Christmas sales figure of $45 billion (expected to go through retail tills from 15 November 2014 to 24 December 2014) will be achieved.

“We won’t be able to confirm the actual pre-Christmas spend until December retail figures are released next month. However, after speaking with retailers across the country, many reported a fairly slow start to Christmas sales in November due to the reluctance of consumers to start their holiday shopping early. As usual, consumers left most of their shopping until the last minute.

“Industries which experienced rises were cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.8%) and household goods retailing (0.6%) and food retailing (0.6%). Department stores remained relatively unchanged (0.0%). This was partially offset by falls in other retailing (-2.1%) and clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-0.7%).

“The Brisbane G20 may have also affected sales in November. The Australian Retail Index (delivered by BDO and Retail Express) stated that accessibility and availability are fundamental to sales, and both were diminished in the lead up to the G20 as barricades and closures were planted to etch a safe zone for the worlds most powerful. There was less traffic in Brisbane’s CBD, shops temporarily suspended operations and a public holiday had been declared – all of which contributed to slower sales.

“In seasonally adjusted terms the states which displayed rises were Victoria (0.4%), South Australia (0.4%), the Australian Capital Territory (1.3%), Tasmania (1.1%), the Northern Territory (1.6%) and Queensland (0.1%). This was partially offset by falls in New South Wales (-0.2%) and Western Australia (-0.1%),” Mr Zimmerman said.

MONTHLY RETAIL GROWTH (October 2014 – November 2014 seasonally adjusted)

Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.8%), Household goods retailing (0.6%), Food retailing (0.6%), Department stores (0.0%),Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-0.7%) and Other retailing (-2.1%).Total sales (0.1%).

Northern Territory (1.6%), Australian Capital Territory (1.3%), Tasmania (1.1%) South Australia (0.4%), Victoria (0.4%), Queensland (0.1%), Western Australia (-0.1%) and New South Wales (-0.2%). Total sales (0.1%).

YEAR-ON-YEAR RETAIL GROWTH (November 2013 – November 2014 seasonally adjusted)

Household goods retailing (11.2%), Food retailing (6.6%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (5.9%), Department stores (2.0%). Other retailing (-1.7%) and Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-2.4%).Total sales (5.0%).

New South Wales (8.7%), Victoria (5.6%), Tasmania (4.6%), South Australia (4.5%), Australian Capital Territory (3.5%), Northern Territory (1.9%), Queensland (1.4%) and Western Australia (1.0%).Total sales (5.0%).

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Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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THE Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Ministry for the Arts are undertaking a review of the Temporary Work (Entertainment) visa (Subclass 420).

The review is in support of the Australian Government's commitment to reducing the burden and cost of unnecessary or inefficient regulation imposed on individuals, business and community organisations.

The Subclass 420 visa allows visa holders to work temporarily in Australia in the entertainment industry in film, television or live productions in either a performance or in a role behind the scenes.

• Find out more, read the discussion paper and submit comments

THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has welcomed support from federal and state politicians and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) in regards to closing the low value GST loophole once and for all.

In a bid to protect retail jobs, new Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has backed a review of the GST loophole that allows for goods under $1000 purchased from online retailers to be exempt from the goods and services tax, saying retailers were operating “with one hand tied behind their backs.”

Along with Assistant Treasurer Frydenberg’s support, the ARA is working with ACCI, of which the ARA is one of the largest and also one of the original founding members.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said there has been many road blocks in achieving tax equality for retailers, the latest being the West Australia Government playing politics to get a bigger slice of the GST pie.

“It is time for all business, governments and consumers to fix this problem which loses state governments legitimate revenue for schools, hospitals and police along with costing thousands of retail jobs in Australia. At this time of year more than ever, we realise how important retail jobs are to the Australian economy - retail provides more jobs than any other sector in the economy, employing more than 10 per cent of the workforce.

“The GST loophole has done nothing but damage our retail sector. Retailers have been forced to play on an uneven playing field for too long as the current system is does not reflect the realities of today’s marketplace.

“The ARA is relieved to see Mr Frydenberg’s support and will be working with him and the Abbott government moving forward,” Mr Zimmerman said.

ACCI has also called for a major rethink of the GST-free threshold. The Chamber supports inclusion of the issue in the upcoming tax white paper process and would like to see the threshold lowered or abolished.

John Osborn, ACCI Director of Economics & Industry Policy, said “lowering the threshold is a case of tax equity and fairness. It’s not a case of online versus bricks and mortar retailers or a tax grab.”

Kate Carnell AO, ACCI CEO, said “a significant proportion of lower value parcels come from a small number of large foreign companies that could easily collect and remit GST to the Australian government.”

Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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