Late night shopping will be extended to three days a week for one week next month to coincide with the Into Asia trade and investment conference, International Business Week and Arts Week.
Cabinet today approved the extension of trading hours to nine o'clock at night from Tuesday, November 17, to Thursday, November 19.
Premier Carmen Lawrence said the decision would give retailers and shoppers an opportunity to take advantage of extended trading before Christmas.
"In addition, retailers will be in a position to take advantage of extra activity generated by a week of wide-ranging events which are aimed at increasing trade, investment and tourism," Dr Lawrence said.
The Premier also announced of the inaugural membership of the Into Asia Business Council to expand the State's trading opportunities with Asia.
Six top-level business people have accepted the Premier's invitation to form the council.
"All have had extensive experience of trading in Asia and were keen to be part of a strategy for major resources to be put into expanding business links with Asia," Dr Lawrence said.
"The business community generally is well aware of the potential that the Asian region holds for our State's economic development."
The Premier said the push for new export and investment opportunities needed co-operation between the business community and the Government.
"We need to ensure that any constraints on existing links are identified and steps taken to remove them," she said.
"One of the first tasks of the Into Asia Business Council under the chairmanship of Harold Clough will be the identification of ways the Government can assist business to establish new and expanded links with Asia.
"The State has a long history of good relations with Asian countries through trade, migration and cultural activities. The future now lies in identifying export markets which will lead to new investment opportunities and the creation of jobs.
"Asia is recognised as the growth centre of the world economy for at least the next two decades and our economic future is tied to the ability of our business community to develop new markets in the region."
The Premier said the inaugural membership of the business council was:
· Harold Clough, chairman of Clough Engineering;
· Simon Lee, executive chairman of Samantha Gold;
· Dick Carter, group general manager of BHP Iron Ore;
· Ken Court, chairman of Westralian sands;
· Georgina Carnegie, managing director of Market Intelligence (Asia); and,
· Iwan Susanto, managing director of the Ozindo Centre.
The business council would report direct to the Premier and adopt a structure which would allow other interest groups with Asian experience to contribute to its activities.
"The expertise of the inaugural membership of the Into Asia Business Council crosses many fields and will be welcomed by the Government in developing its Asian business strategies," Dr Lawrence said.
