CHOGM ties

ANZ, BP, Fortescue Metals Group and Rio Tinto are among the principal sponsors of the business forum to be held in tandem with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth in October.

The Commonwealth Business Forum will bring together about 1,000 business and government leaders to discuss business and investment opportunities across the 54 nations of the Commonwealth.

Other principal sponsors announced this week include Perdaman and Woodside, as well as second-tier supporters BHP Billiton, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Curtin University, Paladin and Wesfarmers.

The forum, to be held on October 25-27, is also financially backed by both the Federal and WA State governments.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, who is in Australia to check on the progress of CHOGM preparations and to meet with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, said the forum would be an opportunity to increase global business ties within the Commonwealth.

Mr Sharma said the business forum would be key part of CHOGM, the ultimate goal of which was to generate both values and wealth within and between the nations of the Commonwealth.

He said that because of Perth’s location as a gateway to Asia, the business forum organisers would be welcome to invite representatives from non-Commonwealth nations such as China and South Korea.

“The business presence of China is so strong, and can be so mutually beneficial,” Mr Sharma said.

“It will undoubtedly be on the agenda of the business forum … and Commonwealth events do not need to be limited to Commonwealth countries.”