Training helps regional businesses grow for export
A new Queensland government training program is designed to help local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) take their business to international markets.
The Member for Ipswich West, Jim Madden, said the Regional Export Workshop which took place on Thursday (1 November) and are being held throughout the state in November are designed to help businesses that have been considering exporting or are in the initial stages of becoming exporters.
“Queensland benefits enormously from having a thriving community of exporting companies, and their exports go on to support one in five Queensland jobs,” Mr Madden said.
“Companies that export make good employers, and outperform non-exporters in terms of wages, staff development and employment conditions.
“We also know these companies have better growth prospects on average, are more innovative, and adopt new technologies and management practices sooner than non-exporters.
“The benefits of exporting are exponential, with domestic companies able to spread their risk by exporting, and this in turn improves resilience and diversity when it comes to Queensland’s economy.”
The half-day workshops are being delivered by the Export Council of Australia and the Queensland Government, and will cover topics including assessing export opportunities, choosing the right market and getting export ready.
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said another round of regional workshops will then be held early next year, focusing on Queensland’s priority industry sectors of advanced manufacturing, biofutures, biomedical and METS (mining equipment, technology and services).
“This is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s drive to boost regional trade and investment capabilities,” Mr Dick said.
“Queensland exports increased 9.5 per cent, or $6.7 billion, to $76.7 billion in the 12 months leading up to August this year, and we want to achieve even greater results moving forward.
“Taking the first steps into exporting can be daunting. There are many obstacles to navigate and every market has its own set of protocols and regulations.
“That’s why my department, in partnership with Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), is rolling out these workshops, and I encourage any Ipswich SME looking to break into international markets to come along and learn from the experts.”
Register for the Regional Export Workshops or get more information.
