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More than 1,500 trade and industry delegates from around the world will be "doing deals with sand between their toes" on the Gold Coast next week as the Commonwealth Games gets underway.
The trade and industry representatives, including some from the world's fastest growing economies, will do deals with each other and investors as part of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Trade and Investment Program (Trade 2018).
"The 1,500 delegates all expressed interest early in this whole process and they will be here to do deals, no doubt about that," said Queensland Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones at the launch of Trade 2018 at the media centre at Broadbeach.
"They'll be representing the technology industry, health, education, food and agribusiness, manufacturing and of course tourism sectors," Jones says.
Among the confirmed attendees is a high-level delegation from India that includes the country's sports minister along with senior trade and commerce officials.
"India is one of the world's fastest growing economies representing more than a billion people and they've indicated they're serious about doing business here," Jones says.
"There are also high level delegates coming in from the UK, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand and Malaysia and it all represents a real renaissance of trade between Commonwealth nations with some of the fastest growing economies in the world."
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says the Commonwealth Games will be much more than just a sporting event with a genuine focus on business.
"With Brexit happening this means that all these connections that are going to take place take on so much more importance now," Tate says.
"This is the perfect place and time to do business and there is no doubt that deals will happen. There will be meetings and deals done which will be consummated in the sand."
Kate Jones also revealed some details about the Opening Ceremony for the Games at Carrara Stadium, confirming Delta Goodrem will be one of the stars among the thousands of performers.
"We're still trying to keep much of the detail under wraps but Delta will be there and she will add a real level of class to the event," Jones says.
"There'll be one and a half billion people watching and we want to put on the best show with thousands of Australian talent on show for the world."
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