Page 1690 - Week 05 - Thursday, 11 May 2017
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opportunity to tell their great export success stories. A Canberra firm iSimulate went on to win an Australian export award through this program.
We also have the trade connect program which provides matched funding to businesses engaged with and growing their international markets. In the 2015-16 fiscal year, trade connect approved 59 applications from ACT businesses with approximately $278,000 in committed funding. With matched private sector investment, this has resulted in a minimum of $576,000 invested in international market activity by Canberra SMEs.
Some examples of the success of the trade connect program include automed, an agriculture business that has developed an animal vaccination technology with contracts now in the US and discussions with New Zealand, China and South Korea; the Cogito Group, a cyber security business now selling its technology to a number of New Zealand government departments; and the ACT government has partnered with the ANU for the past four years to run an international business competition and scholarship program.
I announced in my recent state of the territory address that the government was partnering with the Canberra Business Chamber to deliver a range of new business services, including mentoring and workshops for exporting businesses to increase their capability.
MR PETTERSSON: Chief Minister, how is the government helping to grow our local Canberra businesses in overseas markets?
MR BARR: Through the Commissioner for International Engagement and our partner organisations we are developing and delivering our missions to a range of international markets, delivering missions under the team Canberra model. It provides an excellent platform for promoting local businesses and industries. The government continues to invest in the CBR brand, which provides a consistent, cohesive and creative approach to marketing the ACT nationally and internationally as a city welcoming investment, a connected community and, as we all know, a great place to live, a great place to work and a great place to visit.
The brand has been a strong platform for communication on recent international missions, including the programs delivered as part of our engagement with our sister city Wellington, and in Singapore, including at our recent investor showcase. The Commissioner for International Engagement is, of course, our city’s international CBR brand ambassador. The commissioner’s activities raise the profile of our city to highlight our city’s key capabilities and work with the business community to strengthen our place in international markets.
We have also established strong working relationships with key peak business associations, as I outlined in my speech on the Singapore trade mission this morning. As well as including businesses from strategic markets such as Wellington under our team Canberra banner, we have been developing a range of business-to-business connections across the Tasman.
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