The Centenary is a great time to reflection just how far Canberra has come in its first 100 years. The Territory economy has grown to around 2 per cent of the Australian economy. Our community is, on average, the best paid, best educated and healthiest in the country.
We have the opportunity to further increase economic growth through a focus on exports.
The ACT Government is committed to supporting local businesses to operate on the world stage and export their goods and services around the globe.
That’s why the 2013-14 ACT Budget contained
extra funding for the Global Connect program. Global
Connect consists of a range of programs to raise
awareness about exporting, promote collaboration
among local exporters, increase the number of local
exporters and helps them tap into new markets
That’s why the 2013-14 ACT Budget contained extra funding for the Global Connect program.
Global Connect consists of a range of programs to raise awareness about exporting, promote collaboration among local exporters, increase the number of local exporters and helps them tap into new markets.
Among the Global Connect programs are:
The Trade Connect Program
a competitive grants program providing funding to emerging ACT exporters to support trade development activities. Grants are provided on a dollar-for-dollar basis to a maximum of $15,000 per grant.
The ACT Exporters’ Network
provides a unique forum for new and experienced exporting companies to network, share knowledge and to expand and develop export markets. It operates under the umbrella of the Canberra Business Council, supported by the ACT Government.
The Trade Mission Program
delivered in partnership with program partners like Austrade, the program involves annual outbound ministerial trade missions supporting local companies.
The ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards
part of a national program to recognise excellence in export performance across a number of categories.
The Centre for Exporting Government Solutions
provides resources and expert mentoring to SMEs with a demonstrated capability of delivering innovative solutions to the Australian public sector to access international markets. The Centre build son the success of the ACT Exporting Government Solutions Pilot Program that prepared nine ACT companies to develop capability to win contracts in the US public sector market.
The ACT International Student Ambassador Program
a niche initiative that aims to leverage the international student experience of Canberra as both an international education marketing too land as a skills network that can link to the ACT economy.
Despite the continuing strength of the Australia dollar, the Business Development Strategy commits the ACT Government to maintaining the healthy rate of growth in ACT exports
Consultation between the Economic Development Directorate and local businesses showed strong support for the current trade development business programs and activities, noting both their direct and indirect impacts.
For example, trade development programs that connect businesses to other players in the export market are often just as important as grants or funding – collaboration and networking is often described as the invisible glue that makes successful regional enterprise development systems work.
The ACT Government is proud to be doing its bit to help Territory businesses reach out to the world – for information about the assistance and funding available please see
www.business.act.gov.au
