Victorian Commissioner to boost Middle East links

Mr Butler is one of five new Commissioners recently announced by the Premier of Victoria to represent the State in key regions around the world.

Mr Butler, based in the Victorian Government Business Office (VGBO) in Dubai, will focus on strengthening existing relationships and developing new trade and investment links in the Middle East and North Africa.

This will include current and emerging aviation and tourism, arts and culture and sporting and major event opportunities.

Before being appointed as Victoria's Middle East Commissioner, Mr Butler held senior executive positions in several major companies, including three years in Bahrain as Vice President Sales and Marketing for Gulf Air.

He has also worked as Regional General Manager for Qantas Airways and Director of Sales and Marketing (Australia and New Zealand) for the Hertz Corporation.

Mr Butler said Victoria is already a strong trade partner for the region in several significant areas.

"Victoria is a major supplier of processed food exports to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members with annual exports worth around $500m, and we ship around 90,000 Victorian-built Toyota Camrys to the Gulf each year,"

Mr Butler said.

"Education is another important sector with the Victorian International School of Sharjah the first school outside Australia to be modelled entirely on the Victorian Government school system."

Mr Butler said around 100 Victorian companies are currently active in the Gulf region, supported by the Dubai VGBO.

"Many of these companies are based in construction sector and have been working on landmark projects such as the Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai Mall," Mr Butler said.

"However I see more opportunities across many industry sectors for new business and cultural partnerships between Victoria and the Middle East."

"Victoria's strengths are in industries such as advanced manufacturing, food processing, professional and technical services, biotechnology and environmental technologies. We are also Australia's major events, food, retail, arts and sporting capital."

"I look forward to building on the strong achievements of Peter Deacon, the Dubai VGBO's former Executive Director, working with business and cultural communities across the Middle East and North Africa to further develop their trade opportunities and relationships with Victorian industries and businesses," Mr Butler said.