The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) held a reception on Thursday 7 February  to welcome the Consular Corps of Victoria on the occasion of the start of the year.

Ms. Jenny Bloomfield , the Head of DFAT in Victoria, gave a speech on the importance of economic and commercial diplomacy as priorities for Australia in the coming year, including the conclusion of the free-trade agreement with the European Union. Jenny’s speech was followed by  an intervention by the Dean of Consular Corps,  Ernesto Antonio Dueñas Azucena, Consul of El Salvador.

The Consular Corps is an assocation which gathers together all the general and honorary consulates in the State of Victoria to ensure cohesion between them and facilitate communication (50 honorary consulates and 20 general consulates).