Campbell Newman to visit United Arab Emirates, Singapore, China and Japan next month to seek investors PREMIER Campbell Newman will jet off overseas again in a couple of weeks in an effort to drum up more investment in Queensland. In his second trip in less than two months, the Premier will lead a group of industry chiefs to the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, China and Japan, from September 16. Mr Newman only returned from New Zealand at the start of the month and he has also visited Papua New Guinea and India since becoming Premier 17 months ago. The latest trip comes as concern grows within the built environment industry about job losses and widespread cutbacks as a result of reduced government investment in infrastructure. Consult Australia, which represents engineering, architectural, project management and surveying firms, estimates more than 2000 people have lost their jobs across those industries. State manager Stacey Rawlings said a survey of major companies across Queensland found over 60 per cent had cut up to a third of their workforce in the last 12 months, and half expected to hire no new staff in 2013-14. "The decline in business confidence is palpable across the industry," said Ms Rawlings. Nearly 90 per cent of respondents feel the government (state and federal) could be doing more to stimulate the economy. A spokeswoman for Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney, said Queensland was "outperforming other states" and was seen by "respected economists as the country's stand-out performer." "There is substantial infrastructure and construction activity either underway or in the pipeline, such as the 1 William Street development, government precinct, Commonwealth Games facilities, Bruce Highway and Toowoomba Second Range Crossing," said the spokeswoman. She acknowledged the resources boom was now moving into a "production phase that would require some businesses to recalibrate their activities." "The Newman Government is streamlining and simplifying approvals and planning processes, removing unnecessary red and green tape and working with industries to make business activity easier and providing conditions for new investment, and it's paying off," she said. Premier Newman said his mission was aimed at supporting the state's resources, education and training, construction, infrastructure, science, agriculture and tourism industries. "We are leading these missions to find business and investment opportunities, paving the way for future generations and securing our economic credentials globally," Mr Newman said. Mr Seeney is visiting Africa and India this week, and Treasurer Tim Nicholls recently returned from a trade mission to South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and China.