CAIRNS businessman Jeremy Blockey has been appointed the Queensland Government's new special trade representative to Papua New Guinea.
The Cairns Chamber of Commerce president replaces former mayor Kevin Byrne who quit the post after two months in the job in April.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser announced Mr Blockey’s appointment in State Parliament yesterday.
"The appointment of Mr Blockey as the new Queensland Government special trade representative to PNG, based in Cairns, will help to further strengthen the region’s position as a gateway for companies seeking to take advantage of export opportunities in PNG."
The role was created as part of the Cairns Economic Future Plan released in November last year to create new jobs in the region.
Mr Blockey said he was delighted with the appointment. "It is a reflection of a lot of effort that has been put into the PNG market, not just by myself, but by a number of organisations and individuals," he said.
Mr Blockey, who is the principal of Blockey Consulting, said it was a part-time position so he believed he could continue as chamber president as well as working on a study of shipping services between Cairns and PNG.
