GUANGZHOU: Queensland Minister for Trade John Mickel yesterday witnessed the signing of a A$1 million export contract for a Smart State business. Mr Mickel is leading his first international trade and investment mission as Minister for Trade to Southern China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore. The mission focuses on advancing Queensland exports in knowledge-intensive sectors including education and training, professional services, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing and the marine industry.

The contract will see Australian Sandstone Industries (ASI) export 2500 tonnes of sandstone from its Helidon quarry for use in real-estate projects by Chinese company, L'Sea Group. "This contract helps to further illustrate Queensland's capability and willingness to supply high quality natural resources and building supplies to the Chinese market," Mr Mickel said.

In 2006/07, Queensland's natural resource exports to China totalled A$1.5 billion. Total Queensland exports to China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the same period were valued at more than A$3 billion. ASI, a Queensland-based sandstone quarrying and exporting company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, has exported over A$13 million of product since 2003. ASI chairman Densen Liu said that exporting to China had been a focus in recent years.

"Our product is light weight, durable and free from toxins and radiations, and has recently been awarded a AAA quality rating by the China Industrial Material Standard Bureau,'' he said. Mr Mickel also met with His Excellency Wan Qing Liang, Vice Governor of Guangdong Provincial Government and, on behalf of Premier Anna Bligh, delivered an official invitation for the Governor of Guangdong to visit Queensland.

"The Queensland/Guangdong Friendship Province Agreement has reached the final stage of consultation. I am hopeful it will be finalised by October and that the Governor will join us in Queensland during Export Week for the signing," Mr Mickel said.

Australian Sandstone Industries: Densen Liu +86 755 8203 3448 www.asisandstone.com.au

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
25/03/2008