New associations formed
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The SME Association of Australia (SMEAA) is a membership based not-for-profit (NFP) association that provides services for businesses to connect and grow while acting as a leading voice for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and industries.
The SMEAA will form strategic alliances with businesses, organisations, associations, schools, higher education bodies and government to ensure that SMEs are equipped with what they need to prosper.
At the launch of the SMEAA the Minister for Small Business Nick Sherry said small businesses are the most potent force in the country “accounting for 96 per cent of all businesses in the economy and nearly half Australia’s private sector employment.”
Membership is open to individuals, SMEs, industries and other business and government associations.
The Australian Solar Thermal Energy Association together with European Solar Thermal Electricity Association and Southern Africa Solar Thermal and Electricity Association established the World Solar Thermal Electricity Association (STELA World).
Through its member bodies STELA World aims to promote data and information exchange relating to solar thermal power generation from industry, research agencies, academic institutions and government bodies around the world.
STELA World will work with international agencies such as the International Energy Agency, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the European, African and Asian Development Banks to assist policy-makers and energy investors to access information on solar thermal electricity development, and the value and reducing cost of solar thermal electricity production.
Solar thermal electricity bodies in the United States, Spain, India, the Middle East and North Africa region and Asia will also be approached to join the new international body, and organisations in the United States and Spain have already indicated support.
