Welcome to the Fast Thinking ‘s annual edition of Australian Explorer.

Australia is  ranked the second most competitive country in the world with a population of 20 million or more, after the US.

This publication looks at the two key factors in our economic health: export trade and investment.

Focusing on the two way relationship between the United States of America and Australia, Fast Thinking’s Australian Explorer  tells the stories of Australian  success in the US and provides colourful  insights for Americans and other countries  into many elements of our  economy, industry and lifestyle.

During this period of worldwide economic downturn it is important to note that for  many years Australia’s has long been at the top of the list of the world’s most resilient economies to such economic cycles.

We hope you find it a very useful reference to the increasingly sophisticated economic ties between Australia and the rest of the world

Hugh Liney Editor