A new alliance of seven WA-European chambers of commerce will seek to grow investment, trade, business and government engagement with the Europe Union.
Believed to be an Australian first, the European Chambers Alliance of Western Australia has been formalised as a coordinated alliance of European bilateral chambers of commerce.
The alliance’s founding members represent the Greek, Italian, French, German, Croatian, Swiss and Spanish business communities in WA, and hope to create a new platform to grow engagement between WA and Europe.
More than a year in the making, EUChamWA comes months after the conclusion of negotiations on the Australian-EU Free Trade Agreement in March and following the establishment of the Australia- EU Security and Defence partnership.
Its founding chair and Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA president Elena Limnios said the timing was right for a coordinated approach to Europe from the state’s long-established bilateral chambers.
“EUChamWA gives our Chambers a mechanism to bring those networks together, while each Chamber retains its own identity and independence,” she said.
“The timing is particularly significant.
“The Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement creates opportunities across trade and investment, while our growing strategic relationship extends into critical minerals, energy, renewables, agriculture, defence, cybersecurity, research and new technologies.
“Western Australia is exceptionally well placed to be a gateway between Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
“By working together, our Chambers can create stronger connections between European markets, investment and expertise and the extraordinary capabilities that exist here in WA.”
Dr Limnios will be joined as head of the EUChamWA council by deputy chair and Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Perth president Rob Monzu.
The chair role will rotate annually among EUChamWA members.
Early priorities will include capitalising on the free-trade agreement between the EU and WA, which is expected to create significant opportunities in agriculture, energy, resources and advanced manufacturing once ratified.
EUChamWA will also aim to position WA as a strategic gateway between Europe and the Indo-Pacific, connecting European capital and technology with WA’s businesses in resources and industries.
This week’s formal alliance was announced months after a gathering of nine WA European chambers in Perth in May, which explored the potential of an aligned approach to European engagement.
