NIGEL ADLAMAugust 11th, 2010MAJOR national and international...

NIGEL ADLAM

August 11th, 2010


MAJOR national and international companies have been invited to Darwin for a look at investment prospects.

The NT Major Projects Conference will be held at the Convention Centre on November 15-16. It will be the first conference of its kind in the Territory.

More than 250 delegates are expected to include a string of big hitters, including Inpex.


Others expected are building giant John Holland, management support corporation Aecom and international engineering company KBR, which designed the Darwin to Alice Springs railway.

Chief Minister Paul Henderson will talk about 2030, the NT Government's strategic plan for the next 20 years.

Inpex executives are expected to give a presentation on the $12 billion Icthys gas project, which business people say will change the face of the Territory economy for ever.

Mr Henderson returned from a visit to Tokyo at the weekend and said he was more convinced than ever that the pipeline and Darwin processing plant would be built.

He said Inpex, the Japanese government, bankers and gas customers were eager for the project to go ahead.

Minemakers will talk about the Wonarah phosphate mine on the Barkly Tableland.

There will also be an emphasis at the conference on the new Marine Supply Base, which is being set up by the Darwin Port Corporation.

Mr Henderson has high hopes for the base, which could include companies as diverse as boat firms to oil and gas industry suppliers.

The aim of the conference is to showcase investment opportunities in the NT.

The Territory's population and economy is likely to boom over the next two decades and planners believe this will make the challenges of providing enough homes, roads, schools, health services and water daunting.

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/08/11/171331_nt-business.html