Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP will make her first official visit to the USA from 11 to 16 April.
In New York, the Minister will chair a roundtable with venture capital firms focusing on innovation and early stage investing, attend a Down Under New York event, and visit the New York Stock Exchange.
As part of the National Innovation and Science Agenda, the Turnbull Government is encouraging innovation by aligning our tax system with a culture of entrepreneurship and risk-taking.
The Minister will then travel to Washington D.C. to participate in the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, and the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings.
This will provide an opportunity for G20 members to discuss the policies they are putting forward to address the current challenges and deliver on the ambition to lift collective G20 output by 2 per cent by 2018 – as outlined in Australia’s 2014 Presidency. The meeting will also provide an opportunity to demonstrate Australia’s commitment to the G20 growth agenda through practical reforms in line with the Government’s agenda.
The IMF Spring Meetings are another important platform to engage with finance ministers and central bankers from around the world as well as senior IMF representatives.
The Minister will be discussing the risks to the current global economic outlook as well as key policy priorities for the IMF – including supporting strong, sustainable and balanced growth, improvements to the global financial safety net and ensuring the adequacy of IMF resources.
While in Washington, the Minister will also attend a Global Connect Initiative conference, bringing together finance ministers, industry and multilateral development banks, along with US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim. The event seeks to emphasise the message that internet connectivity is crucial to economic development and growth.
The Minister will also hold a number of bilateral meetings with G20 Finance Ministers, as well as senior leaders of the World Bank.
The Minister said she looks forward to representing Australia at these important international economic engagements and promoting the Government’s economic reform priorities.