Aussie Rugby World Cup Deal Seals NZ Super Yacht

Lucrative Export Deal Sealed through Rugby World Cup

A consortium of Brisbane companies has used a business program at last year’s Rugby World Cup to secure a $12 million export deal to outfit a 192-foot New Zealand super yacht.

Murarrie-based Furniture Manufacturing Company of Australia (FMCA) will lead the project, which will take 12 months to complete and involve more than 300 workers at all levels. The company concluded negotiations for its part of the deal ($6million) during Rugby Business Club Australia (RBCA), the Federal Government program designed to generate trade and investment outcomes from RWC2003.

FMCA Managing Director, Robert Falzon, said RBCA played an important role in the contract negotiations.

“Rugby Business Club Australia gave us a unique and exciting environment in which to hold crucial business negotiations,” Mr Falzon said.

“After developing a solid relationship with the company over many months, we were able to share our mutual interest in rugby and the facilities of a world class sporting event to seal an extremely lucrative deal for our company.

“The contract will involve the complete interior fit-out of a high quality super yacht owned by a prominent New Zealand businessman.”

Mr Falzon said the highly prestigious nature of the project would benefit both the port of Brisbane and the entire Australian marine outfitting industry.

“This is the largest private luxury vessel to ever enter Brisbane’s port. As well as the furniture and interior design component, the project will draw on Brisbane’s expertise in engineering, plumbing, electrical, air conditioning and hydraulics,” Mr Falzon said.

FMCA, established by Mr Falzon in 1985, is Australia’s largest manufacturer of custom designed furniture. It produces furniture for five-star hotels, luxury trains and super yachts, as well as cafes/restaurants, hospitals, airports, professional offices and private homes.

Some of its recent projects have included Arthur Anderson Accountants in Brisbane, MY Ulysses in New Orleans, USA (Luxury yacht fit-out), Platinum on the Beach on the Gold Coast and Hyatt Cheju in Korea.

RBCA started 12 months before Rugby World Cup 2003 and will continue through to the end of 2004. There are more than 7,500 members of the club, with 30 per cent being international.

RBCA involved numerous business networking functions and strategic hosting events during the Tournament, and a business matching service that will continue until December 2004.

© Scoop Media