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Queensland Health Report to Parliament Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services Official visit to India 29 August to 2 September 2017

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Queensland Health

Report to Parliament

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services

Official visit to India

29 August to 2 September 2017

Contents

Official Delegation iii

Background and key messages 1

Itinerary 2

Wednesday, 30 August 2017— New Delhi 4

Breakfast with Queensland delegates attending ABWI 4

Meet and greet with the Australian High Commissioner to India 5

Briefings with government and healthcare regulators 5

Meeting with AIIMS and QUT 6

Site visit to Medanta Group 7

Thursday, 31 August 2017— Bangalore 8

Workshop with Biocon / Narayana Health 8

Meeting with Sri Ramesh Kumar, Health Minister for Karnataka Government 9

Meeting with ABLE and KBITS 9

Australian Alumni Event 10

Friday, 1 September 2017— Bangalore 12

Australian innovation showcase in life sciences and healthcare 12

Site visit to HCG's Bangalore Hospital 12

Meeting with Professor Vishal Rao, Health Innovator and Affordable Health Activist 13

Photos 14

Media Releases 17

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - ii -

Official Delegation The Honourable Cameron Dick MP, Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services

Mr Michael Walsh, Director-General, Department of Health

Accompanied by: Ms Sandra Diethelm, Commissioner for India, Trade and Investment

Queensland

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - iii -

Background and key messages The Honourable Cameron Dick MP, Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services represented the Queensland Government at the Australia Business Week in India (ABWI) from 29 August to 2 September 2017. The Minister was accompanied by Mr Michael Walsh, Director-General, Department of Health.

ABWI was organised by Austrade and the Minister participated in activities in New Delhi and Bangalore. In addition, Trade and Investment Queensland and Queensland Health organised a number of additional health related meetings for the Minister.

Leading the Queensland delegation at ABWI was an opportunity to highlight Queensland's world-class health capabilities, from the provision of telehealth services and digital innovations to research, and opportunities for industry development with the growing healthcare sector in India.

Healthcare is one of India's largest sectors — both in terms of revenue and employment. The Indian healthcare sector is growing strongly due to rapidly rising demand, expanding services and networks fuelled by increasing expenditure by government and, importantly, significant investment from the private sector.

Driven largely by digital adoption, the current US$100 billion Indian healthcare market is expected to grow at a 23 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach US$280 billion by 2020 (Deloitte India).

India is among the top 12 biotech destinations and ranking highly in Asia.

Major pharmaceutical companies in India are interested in partnering with small technology groups that offer solutions which can be integrated with in-house capability. These offer great opportunities for Queensland's growing bio-pharmaceutical sector.

The Queensland delegation to India supports the work of the Queensland Health Export and Investment Advisory Council, newly established to help Queensland target growth opportunities for the sector, including exporting our healthcare capabilities, research collaborations and investment.

Queensland's healthcare sector has a lot to offer India to address its growing demand for efficient healthcare at a high standard. Queensland shows excellence in health service delivery and skills as well as being a destination for clinical trials.

Showcasing Queensland's health industries in India, and health professionals, will build strong collaborations, opportunities for business and in the longer term, increase investments into Queensland.

Queensland's excellence in vaccine technologies, tropical diseases, drug development and eHealth and telehealth services could solve many of India's health challenges.

It was important for the Queensland Government to be involved as part of the Austrade delegation to represent Queensland's interests and demonstrate commitment to exploring opportunities with India. The visit provided an opportunity to further build Queensland's health capability profile in India, in particular around telehealth and digital health. It also provided an opportunity to advance the development of a health export and investment network in India for the Queensland health sector.

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 1 -

Itinerary

Time is in local time

Tuesday 29 August 2017

9:10 — 15:30 Depart Brisbane for Singapore Singapore Airlines SQ256

15:30 — 17:10 Arrive Singapore In transit

17:10 — 20:10 Depart Singapore for New Delhi

Singapore Airlines SQ406

Wednesday 30 August 2017

7:30 — 8:30 Breakfast with Queensland delegates attending ABWI

Senate Room, Regency Club, Level 6, Hyatt Regency Delhi

8:55 Meet and greet with the Australian High Commissioner to India

Drawing Room, Hyatt Regency

9:00 — 10:30 Meetings with government and healthcare regulators

Drawing Room, Hyatt Regency

10:30 — 11:00 Meeting with AIIMS and QUT Board Room, Level 2, Hyatt Regency

12:00 — 14:15 Site visit to Medanta Group Medanta Medicity, Gurgaon

16:25 — 19:10 Depart New Delhi for Bangalore

Jet Airways 9W0809

Thursday 31 August 2017

10:00 — 12:00 Workshop with Biocon / Narayana Health

Biocon Centre

14:30 — 15:00 Meeting with Sri Ramesh Kumar, Health Minister for Karnataka Government

Karnataka Parliament Building

15:30 — 16:30 Meeting with ABLE and KBITS Cycad, Taj West End

19:00 — 21:30 Australian Alumni Event Blue Ginger Restaurant, Taj West End

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 2 -

Friday 1 September 2017

10:00 — 12:20 Australian innovation showcase in life sciences and healthcare

Taj West End

15:00 — 16:00 Site visit to HCG's Bangalore Hospital

HCG Towers, No 8, P Kalinga Rao Road, Sampangi Ram Nagar

17:00 — 18:00 Meeting with Professor Vishal Rao, Health Innovator and Affordable Health Activist

Taj West End

23:05 — 6:10 (Sat)

Depart Bangalore for Singapore

Singapore Airlines SQ503

Saturday 2 September 2017

6:10 — 9:40 Arrive Singapore In transit

9:40 — 19:30 Depart Singapore for Brisbane Singapore Airlines SQ245

Official visit concludes

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 3 -

Wednesday, 30 August 2017 - New Delhi

Breakfast with Queensland delegates attending ABWI

Date: 30 August 2017

Time: 7:30 — 8:30

Attendees:

• Mr Peter Varghese AO, Chancellor, The University of Queensland; Chair,

Queensland Health Export and Investment Advisory Council

• Dr Nik Senapati, President, Australia India Business Council (Qld)

• Dr Gillian Alexis, Chief Executive Officer, MyOnlineClinic

• Mr Syed Junaid, Chief Technology Officer, MyOnlineClinic

• Mr James Davies, Chief Operating Officer, MyOnlineClinic

• Mr Ben Slater, Joint Managing Director and Chief Information Officer, ConnectUs Life

• Professor Sheel Nuna, Director, South Asia, QUT

• Mr Tim Kelsey, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Digital Health Agency

• Professor Meredith Makeham, Chief Medical Advisor, Australian Digital Health

Agency

• Mr Sam Freeman, Marketing and Communications Manager, Queensland Skills

and Education Consortium

• Mr Michael Kasprowicz, Founding Partner and Managing Director, Venture India

Pty Ltd

• Mr Tony Le Messurier, Managing Director, Renewable Energy Solutions Australia Holdings Ltd

• Ms Alicia Dunbar, General Manager, Southern Cross Agricultural Exports

• Ms Sandra Diethelm, Commissioner for India, Trade and Investment Queensland

(TIQ)

• Ms Shashi Kalyan, Business Development Officer, TIQ

Background:

• 2017 is the second ABWI and promotes Australian capability and expansion of

Australia's trade, investment and education relationships.

• The current US$100 billion Indian healthcare market is expected to grow at a 23

per cent compound annual growth rate to reach US$280 billion by 2020.

Event Summary:

• Welcomed Queensland delegates and acknowledged their involvement in ABWI.

• Provided an overview of Queensland Government's key policy initiatives related to

health industry development and the provision of healthcare.

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 4 -

Meet and greet with the Australian High Commissioner to India

Date:

30 August 2017

Time:

8:55

Attendees:

• Her Excellency Ms Harinder Sidhu, Australian High Commissioner to India, Australian Government

Background:

• Queensland has active science relationships with India led by key universities and institutes, in particular The University of Queensland, QUT and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (QIMRB).

• Queensland researchers have been working closely with research partners in India on issues of regional and global significance such as food security, climate change, renewable energy and improved management of diabetic ulcers.

Meeting Summary:

• Met with Her Excellency and briefly outlined Queensland's capabilities.

Meeting with government and healthcare regulators

Date:

30 August 2017

Time:

9:00 — 10:30

Attendees:

• Her Excellency Ms Harinder Sidhu, Australian High Commissioner to India, Australian Government

• Dr Renu Swarup, Additional Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology

• Mr Lay Agarwal, Joint Secretary, E-Health, Ministry of Health Family and Welfare, Government of India

• Dr Jitendar Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, Andhra Pradesh Med technology Zone

• Dr Ayesha Chaudhary, Niti Aayog

• Mr Ashok Kumar, Vice President, J&J and Medical Technology Association of India

• Honourable Roger Cook MLA, Western Australia Deputy Premier; Minister for Health; Mental Health

• Audience of approximately 60 people (Indian government sector and Australian delegates)

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 5 -

Background:

• This interactive session was an opportunity for Australian delegates to meet with Indian Government healthcare representatives to gather insights about India's healthcare and medical sector.

Event Summary:

• Delivered a presentation on Queensland's expertise and key strengths across the Australian healthcare system, including eHealth. Presentation included a brief overview of Queensland, the Queensland Government's Advance Queensland initiative, Advancing health 2026 and the Queensland Health Export and Investment Advisory Council.

• Briefings from Indian government representatives on India's agenda for health, innovation and digital technology, including upcoming opportunities and areas for potential collaboration.

• Briefings from Australian delegates on Australia's expertise and key strengths across digital healthcare.

Meeting with AIIMS and QUT

Date:

30 August 2017

Time:

10:30 — 11:00

Attendees:

• Professor Balram Bhargava, Cardiac Surgeon, All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) and Executive Director, International Centre of BioDesign

• Professor Sheel Nuna, Director South Asia, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

Background:

• The AIIMS offer International Fellowships in Biodesign at the School of International Biodesign (New Dehli) to applicants from India and Australia, particularly OUT.

• The fellowship program provides access to an incubator for cost effective (frugal) innovations in med-tech leading to startup companies. Fellows work in teams, identify a clinical need and develop an innovative product to meet that need.

• The School of International Biodesign is funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India and the program is administered as a collaboration between Stanford University, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, The AIIMS and QUT.

• Professor Bhargava is collaborating with QUT to develop vision cameras for surgery.

Meeting Summary:

• Received a briefing on this collaboration between QUT and the International Centre of Biodesign, AIIMS that trains Fellows to develop cost-effective innovations for commercialisation.

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 6 -

• Supported OUT hosting the 13th lndo-Australian Biotechnology Conference in Brisbane from 30-31 October 2017 on Omics in Health.

Site visit to Medanta Group

Date:

30 August 2017

Time:

12:00 — 14:15

Attendees:

• Mr Abhay Sanghvi, Associate Vice President, Medanta Group

• Honourable Roger Cook MLA, Western Australia Deputy Premier; Minister for Health and Mental Health

• Mr John Madew, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner

• Audience of approximately 40 people (Medanta Group and Australian delegates)

Background:

• Medanta Medicity is one of India's largest multi-super specialty hospitals. It has 1600 beds covering over 22 specialities. Spread across 43 acres, the Institute includes a research centre and medical and nursing school. It was founded by Dr Naresh Trehan, an eminent cardiac surgeon.

• Medanta has an American Heart Association-certified International Training Centre. It also offers customised training programs for doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and the community.

Meeting Summary:

• Delivered 10 minute speech on Queensland health innovation, focusing on digital health, eHealth and digital hospitals. Highlighted innovative Queensland health companies like MyOnlineClinic and ConnectUs Life.

• Site visit focused on showcasing the healthcare model in India.

• Medanta Group is interested in technologies that provide integrated platforms or solutions.

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 7 -

Thursday, 31 August 2017 — Bangalore

Workshop with Biocon / Narayana Health

Date:

31 August 2017

Time:

10:00 — 12:00

Attendees:

• Dr Naren Chirmule, President, R&D, Biocon

• Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman, Executive Director, Naryana Health

• Dr Paul Salins, Medical Director, Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre (MSCC)

• Mr John Madew, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner

• Audience of approximately 40 people (Biocon, Narayana Health and Australian delegates)

Background:

• Biocon Ltd. is one of Asia's home grown premier biopharmaceutical companies with a turnover of US$550 million. It is committed to the global right to healthcare by addressing the worldwide need for safe, effective and affordable bio therapeutics.

• It is India's largest fully integrated biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and supplies advanced, life-saving biopharmaceuticals for diabetes, cancer and autoimmune conditions.

• Narayana Health is a chain of multi-specialty hospitals in India, headquartered in Bangalore. It was founded by Dr Devi Shetty and has its flagship hospital in Bangalore at 'Narayana Health City'.

• Narayana Health operates a chain of hospitals, heart centres, and primary care facilities across India, with one of the largest telemedicine networks in the world. It offers speciality and tertiary care facilities covering a wide range of specialisation, including oncology services.

• The Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre (MSCC) is situated at Narayana Health City and is named after Biocon's founder. The MSCC is one of the largest comprehensive cancer centres in India with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. MSCC's objective is to reach out to the community to increase cancer awareness, screening and diagnosis.

Meeting Summary:

• Presentation style event with discussion around areas where Australian health technology capabilities can be leveraged by Biocon for best practice.

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 8 -

Meeting with Sri Ramesh Kumar, Health Minister for Karnataka Government

Date: 31 August 2017

Time: 14:30 — 15:00

Attendees:

• Sri Ramesh Kumar, Honourable Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka Government

• Dr Shalini Rajneesh, Principal Secretary to Karnataka Government, Health and Family Welfare Services

Background:

• Health is a state service under the Indian constitution. Karnataka State Government has four Departments which cover all activities of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, including the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, Directorate of Medical Education, Directorate of Indian System of Medicine and homeopathy, and Drugs Control Department.

• Bangalore, the capital of the State of Karnataka (population approximately 61 million) is known across India for its strong capabilities in information technology and biotechnology and for its large start-up community.

Meeting Summary:

• Provided overview of the Queensland Biomedical 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan; the Digital Health Strategic Vision for Queensland 2026 and the eHealth Investment Strategy.

• Explored potential synergies and areas of collaboration between Queensland Health and the Karnataka Government Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Meeting with ABLE and KBITS

Date: 31 August 2017

Time: 15:30 — 16:30

Attendees:

• Mr Suresh Narayanan, Chief Operating Officer, Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE)

• Mr Srinivas Rao, Senior Consultant (Content & Research), ABLE

• Dr Mittur Jagadish, Head - Biotechnology Facilitation Cell at Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS), Karnataka Government, IT, BT & Science & Technology Department

Background:

• Founded in April 2003, ABLE is an Indian not-for-profit forum that represents the Indian biotechnology sector. ABLE has over 400 members from all across India representing agribiotech, bio-pharma, industrial biotech, bioinfornnatics, investment banks and venture capital firms, leading research and academic institutes, law firms

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 9 -

and equipment suppliers. The primary focus of ABLE is to accelerate the pace of growth of the biotechnology sector in India through coherent policy advice, encouraging entrepreneurship and creating a forum for domestic and overseas industry and academia.

• Karnataka Government - Bangalore, the capital of the State of Karnataka is known across India for its strong capabilities in Information Technology and Biotechnology and for its large start-up community. The KBITS is part of the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology. KBITS was established in 2001 to help in facilitating and promoting the Information Technology and Biotech sectors in the state by organising national and international trade shows, conferences, symposia and seminars.

Meeting Summary:

• Discussed health and life science opportunities between India and Queensland.

• Discussed Queensland's capabilities and priorities in the sector.

• Gained a deeper understanding of niche areas for collaboration.

• Extended an invitation to attend the 13th Indo-Australian Biotechnology Conference in Brisbane from 30-31 October 2017 on Omics in Health.

Australian Alumni Event

Date: 31 August 2017

Time: 19:00 — 21:30

Attendees:

• Alumni from Australian universities

Background:

• Australia's healthcare information technology market is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 12.3 per cent and expected to reach an estimated market value of A$2.2 billion by 2020.

• Australian Governments and businesses are investing in digital health solutions to build a sustainable healthcare system, responding to challenges including increasing costs, an ageing population and greater demand for personalised care.

• In particular, Australia's and Queensland's experience in delivering healthcare in remote areas and using data analytics to predict future demand is synergistic with India's need for remote health in rural parts of the country.

• As well as developing innovative, leading-edge applications, Australian digital health providers have developed affordable solutions for healthcare delivery.

• India recently launched its National Health Policy 2017, which articulates the need to increase access, improve quality and lower the cost of healthcare delivery.

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 10 -

Event Summary:

• Met with Australian university alumni and their organisations and welcomed the connections that they can bring between the sector in Australia and Queensland with India.

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 11 -

Friday, 1 September 2017 Bangalore

Australian innovation showcase in life sciences and healthcare Date:

1 September 2017

Time:

10:00 — 12:20

Attendees:

• Ms Stephanie Fahey, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Trade and Investment Commission

• Dr Jitendar Kumar, Managing Director, Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre

• Mr Peter Varghese AO, Chancellor, The University of Queensland; Chair, Queensland Health Export and Investment Advisory Council

• Audience of approximately 100 people (Indian healthcare and information technology industry and Australian delegates)

Background:

• This session provided an opportunity to showcase Australian and Queensland's life sciences and digital health capabilities to India's healthcare and information technology industry.

• The Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC), a centre for nurturing and promoting start-ups in life sciences, has been set up on a 10-acre campus next to the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology. This is a flagship project of KBITS, which opened its doors in 2015 and currently hosts 16 companies. Aside from individual units for incubatees, it has highly specified labs with common equipment.

Event Summary:

• Delivered 10 minute speech on Queensland health innovation, focusing on digital health, eHealth and digital hospitals. Highlighted innovative Queensland health companies MyOnlineClinic and ConnectUs Life.

Site visit to HCG's Bangalore Hospital Date: 1 September 2017

Time: 15:00 — 16:00

Attendees:

• Mr Yogesh Patel, Chief Financial Officer, Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd (HCG)

• Dr Naveen Nagar, Vice President, Medical, HCG

• Mr Dinesh Madhavan, Director of Healthcare Services, HCG

Background:

• HCG is one of India's largest private providers of cancer care through its network of 18 comprehensive cancer centres across India.

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 12 -

• HCG's objective is to provide patients with new age cancer treatment solutions at affordable prices.

Meeting Summary:

• Briefed on HCG's work in India and undertook a tour of its flagship Bangalore Hospital showcasing its latest technological treatments including Cyclotron, Tomography, Cyber Knife and Robotic Surgery.

Meeting with Professor Vishal Rao, Health Innovator and Affordable Health Activist

Date: 1 September 2017

Time: 17:00 — 18:00

Attendees:

• Professor Vishal Rao, Surgeon, Health Inventor, and Affordable Health Activist

• Mr Ben Slater, Joint Managing Director and Chief Information Officer, ConnectUs Life

Background:

• Professor Rao has received numerous acknowledgements for his social initiatives and inventions such as the $1 voice box. He is an advisor to the Former Minister (2013-2016) for Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka Government.

• Professor Rao is a Surgical Oncologist - Head & Neck at the HealthCare Global (HCG) Cancer Centre in Bangalore and is a member of the High Power Committee for Tobacco Control and Cancer control, Government of Karnataka.

Meeting Summary:

• Provided an overview of Queensland's health system and capabilities.

• Discussed how Queensland companies such as MyOnlineClinic, ConnectUs Life and other digital health product and services providers could add value to the Indian health system and local communities, while acknowledging that India is an entrepreneur's and software development hub.

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Photos

Photo 1 Breakfast with Queensland delegates attending ABWI

Photo 2 Queensland delegates attending ABWI

Photo 3 Mr Walsh, Director-General, Department of Health, Minister Dick, Her Excellency Ms Harinder Sidhu, Australian High Commissioner to India, Ms Sandra Diethelm, Commissioner for India, TIQ

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INNOVATION - DIGITAL HEALTH MID LIFE SCIENCES

Photo 4

Minister Dick with speakers at the Briefings with government and healthcare regulators session

Photo 5 Meeting with AIIMS and QUT — Minister Dick, Mr Walsh, Professor Balram Bhargava and Professor Sheel Nuna

Photo 6 Meeting with Sri Ramesh Kumar, Health Minister for Karnataka Government and Dr Shalini Rajneesh, Principal Secretary to Karnataka Government, Health and Family Welfare Services

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 15 -

ALUM RECEPTION

Photo 7

Minister Dick and Ms Sandra Diethelm with Australian Alumni Event attendees

Photo 8 Minister Dick's address at the Australian innovation showcase in life sciences and healthcare session

Photo 9 Site visit to Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd's Bangalore Hospital

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 16 -

Media Releases

Media release

JOINT STATEMENT Premier and Minister for the Arts The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services The Honourable Cameron Dick Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Commonwealth Games The Honourable Kate Jones

Qld health know-how and Chinese tourism focus for trade missions

Showcasing Queensland's health innovation know-how and inbound tourism from China will be the focus of Ministerial trade missions to India and China this week.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Health and Ambulance Services Minister Cameron Dick was representing her on the 'Australia Business Week in India' trade mission; while Tourism Minister Kate Jones was attending a Tourism Minister's meeting in China and holding talks with tourism industry officials.

"We know that there is a strong appetite amongst our trade partners in the Asia- Pacific for Queensland's high-quality health and aged care products and services," the Premier said.

"My Health Minister will this week explore opportunities to grow our health economy, looking for potential collaboration and investment in areas such as digital health and remote healthcare.

"The current Indian health care market is about US$100 billion and this is expected to reach US$280 billion by 2020, driven largely by digital adoption.

"In addition, our key strengths across digital health care will be of interest in a country looking toward developing and delivering an integrated health platform which incorporates e-health records.

"Queensland 's experience in delivering rural and remote healthcare is also a good fit with India's need for remote health in their own rural communities."

Mr Dick said the trade mission provides a platform to promote numerous digital innovations in health care in use across Queensland.

"Queensland Health's innovative use of technology and the roll-out of our digital hospitals and telehealth services will be of interest when I speak with Indian government health care representatives, university leaders, business people and investors," he said.

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 17 -

"At the beginning of August I hosted the inaugural Queensland Health Export and Investment Advisory Council meeting in Brisbane.

"The Council brought together government and private sector stakeholders to work towards growing health jobs in Queensland by attracting international investment and increasing the export of our world class products and services.

"I will also encourage Indian government and business leaders to visit Queensland for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in April so they can participate in the exciting program of trade and investment events in the lead up to and during the Games."

The Premier said Minister Jones' visit to China provided opportunities to grow the State's tourism industry and support future jobs.

"Queensland's $25 billion tourism industry supports 230,000 jobs and we want to see that grow," the Premier said.

"The Queensland industry has a lot to be optimistic about with tourism from China expected to triple to $3 billion by 2025.

Minister Jones said it was an exciting time to be in Queensland tourism and she would use this week's talks with Chinese tourism officials to keep delivering on the Palaszczuk Government's commitment to grow tourism.

"We went to the election with a commitment to grow tourism and provide a funding guarantee," Ms Jones said.

"That is exactly what we have done with record numbers of Australian and international visitors coming to Queensland.

"We remain committed to growing the tourism industry by encouraging new airline services into Queensland and by focusing on emerging tourism markets in Asia.

"That's why our government has committed $10 million to the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund to draw more international flights into Queensland.

"Through our AAIF investment we have secured new international flights bringing 600,000 extra seats to Queensland and a $450 million boost to our economy.

"To date, the fund has been used to secure more visitors between Kuala Lumpur and the Gold Coast, Shanghai and Cairns, Auckland and the Sunshine Coast, Singapore and Cairns, and Tokyo and Brisbane."

Minister Dick is travelling to India from 29 August to 1 September. Minister Jones is travelling to Beijing, China from 27 to 31 August.

Media contacts: Premier's office: Michelle Wellington 0437 323 834 Minister Dick's office: Catherine Palmer 0424 823 424 Minister Jones' office: Ellen McIntyre 0439 547 522

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services — Official visit to India - 18 -