Australia's trade in services grew 11.8 per cent in 2007-08, to $101.3 billion, according to a trade statistics publication released today by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Australia's services exports make up 21.9 per cent of the nation's total exports and 20.7 per cent of Australia's total trade in goods and services. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally.

Today is St Patrick's Day. The Australia Japan Foundation (AJF) and Australian Education International (AEI) are pleased to announce the 2009 Australia-Japan Talkback Classroom Forum will be held at the National Press Club of Australia on 16 March 2009. Media Enquiries: DFAT Media Liaison - 02 6261 1555 - Mr Stephen Cutting, Talkback Classroom Producer, on Mob: 0408 559211 or Email: .

One hundred and eighty teachers from Australia and Indonesia will swap schools as part of a new education initiative to build partnerships between the two countries. Today, 30 Indonesian teachers will be welcomed to Australia at the official launch of the ground-breaking BRIDGE (Building Relationships through Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement) project which links teachers through their schools and communities. The Indonesian teachers will spend several weeks in Australian classrooms and will jointly develop curricula with their Australian counterparts in a mix of metropolitan, regional and rural schools across all states and territories.

The Australia Korea Foundation (AKF) announced on 6 March the establishment of an annual scholarship program to strengthen Australia's engagement with the Republic of Korea and Australia-Korea relations. The AKF Scholarship Program responds to the Prime Minister's call to enhance significantly ties with the Republic of Korea and reflects the AKF's objectives in this area. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally.

Today is Independence Day. The Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR) and the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AACCI) are pleased to announce the release this week of six business reports designed to help Australian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) do business with the Arab world. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally.

Western Australia was again the nation's leading exporter in 2007-08, accounting for almost one third of all Australia exports, according to DFAT's annual analysis of trade by each of the states and territories. The figures are contained in Australia's Trade by State and Territory 2007-08 , which provides a complete statistical guide to exports and imports of goods and services for every State and Territory on a financial year basis. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally.

From this Monday (12 January) Australians travelling to the United States of America will be required to follow new border entry procedures. For more information, read the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's travel bulletin 'United States-New Entry Requirements' at which contains more detailed information about ESTA and links to the relevant US Government websites. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally.

Today is Emperor's Birthday Day. The Shanghai World Expo will take place between 1 May and 31 October 2010. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is leading the expo project in collaboration with Commonwealth agencies, state and territory governments and private sector stakeholders. Information about Australias participation in the Shanghai World Expo 2010 can be found at . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally.

Today is Emperor's Birthday Day. International Venue Group (IVG), an Australian company based in Melbourne, has won a public tender to provide staffing, retail and operations services worth up to $12 million for Australias pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. The Shanghai World Expo will take place between 1 May and 31 October 2010. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is leading the expo project in collaboration with Commonwealth agencies, state and territory governments and private sector stakeholders. Information about Australias participation in the Shanghai World Expo 2010 can be found at .

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade released today the publication. Media Enquiries: DFAT Media Liaison - 02 6261 1555. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally.