Tuesday, 18 September 2001 Media Statement

Hodgson to Singapore, Brisbane

Science Minister Pete Hodgson travels to Singapore and Brisbane this week to promote investment in New Zealand, particularly in biotechnology.

Mr Hodgson departs New Zealand this afternoon and returns on Saturday.

In Singapore he will attend TechVenture Asia 2001, an international technology investment forum, and promote New Zealand science and technology investment and the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund, the Government's seed and start-up venture capital fund.

Mr Hodgson will address a meeting of the Singapore-New Zealand Business Council and a seminar for Singapore business groups including the Singapore Venture Capital Association. He will meet Singaporean biomedical investors and visit the Singapore Economic Development Board.

In Brisbane on Friday Mr Hodgson will meet Paul Lucas, Queensland State Minister for Innovation and Information Economy and visit research and technology institutes and companies.

Itinerary attached.

Itinerary: Minister of Research, Science and Technology Pete Hodgson's travel to Singapore and Queensland

Tuesday 18 September 2001
Travel Wellington-Auckland-Singapore
Wednesday 19 September 2001
8.30am Signing of memorandum of understanding between Crop & Food (a Crown Research Institute) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic
9.40am Dr Gurinder Shahi, ceo Lab Lynk Biotechnologies
11.30am Attend TechVenture Asia 2001: investment forum and brokerage meetings, networking lunch, panel discussion on communication technologies
3.30pm Brigadier-General George Yeo, Singapore Minister of Trade and Industry
5.00pm Speak on New Zealand investment opportunities at seminar for Singapore business groups, hosted by Singapore Productivity and Standards Board
7.00pm Attend dinner at Biomedical Asia 2001 Symposium

Thursday 20 September 2001
9.00am Teo Ming Kian, chairman Singapore Economic Development Board
10.15am Lim Boon Heng, chairman Singapore Productivity and Standards Board
11.30am Phillip Yeo, chairman Singapore National Science and Technology Board
12.30pm Biomedical and Techventure lunch with Singapore business people, NZ High Commission Residence
3.00pm Visit NZ agencies in Singapore: High Commission, Trade NZ, Tourism NZ, Immigration Service
3.30pm Media interview, Channel NewsAsia
4.30pm Andrew Witty, GlaxoSmithKline regional director

Friday 21 September 2001
10.00am Paul Lucas, Queensland State Minister for Innovation and Information Economy
11.15am Professor Michael Good, director Queensland Institute of Medical Research
1.00pm Steve Copplin, ceo i.Lab (high-tech incubator)
2.15pm Dr Peter Riddles, gm corporate development IMBcom (commercial arm of Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland)
3.45pm Dr Tracie Ramsdale, ceo Alchemia (synthetic carbohydrate chemistry company)

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