 Rhodri Morgan will spend a week in Australia |
First Minister Rhodri Morgan is due to arrive in Sydney, Australia, on Monday, to launch an exhibition promoting Welsh tourism. The Wales Rocks Sydney exhibition invites visitors to learn about Wales, as well as listening to Welsh bands and discovering their own Welsh links.
The initiative is running during the Rugby World Cup, which is also taking place in Australia. Mr Morgan will remain in Australia to watch Wales play New Zealand in a World Cup group match in Sydney on Sunday.
The exhibition is taking place in Sydney's AMEX Hall at the Museum of Contemporary Art along with an outdoor stage in First Fleet Park, which is host to daily live performances by Welsh bands and musicians.
 |  The Rugby World Cup provides the perfect platform for us to promote the very best of Wales  |
It began on 24 October and will continue until 2 November.
Mr Morgan said: "The Rugby World Cup provides the perfect platform for us to promote the very best of Wales when Sydney will be packed with visitors from all the Rugby Nations.
"Australia's economy has developed hugely in the past 10 years.
"It is now a very important market for Wales in terms of trade, inward investment and tourism potential.
"The showcase is part of a marketing drive that will include a trade mission by Welsh companies and inward investment programme."
After officially opening the exhibition, Mr Morgan will watch Welsh entertainer Max Boyce in performance at Sydney Opera House.
Pen pals
During his week-long visit, the first minister will discuss inward investment to Wales with business leaders in Melbourne.
The Sydney event has been organised by the Welsh Assembly Government, Wales Trade International, the Wales Tourist Board, Welsh Development Agency, Wales Arts International, Welsh Books Council and the National Library of Wales.
Designed by Welsh designer Angela Gidden, the exhibition showcases Welsh culture, crafts, music and food.
Children from the Australian state of New South Wales are adding their handprints to a huge canvas which will be sent to Welsh schools to create pen pals across the two hemispheres.
Australia ranks as the sixth-largest overseas market in terms of visits to Wales.
The most recent figures, from 2001, showed that 61,000 trips were made to Wales by Australians, who spent �13m when in Wales.
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