Queensland premier and Minister for Trade Annastacia Palaszczuk has launched a new Go Global campaign, offering $1 million in export grants to help Queensland businesses introduce their products in global markets.
Supported by Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), the Go Global programme will see successful applicants receive micro-grants up to $5,000 and macro-grants up to $25,000. It aims to help companies “overcome barriers” when working with a new buyer or in a new market while exporting.
Funds can go towards market-entry requirements, costs associated with product testing and redesign, trials, IP advice, and counterfeit protection, as well as gaining accreditation, such as Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point or Halal accreditation.
“Queensland has around 7,300 goods-exporting companies, of which 40 per cent are based in regional Queensland and one in five Queenslanders rely on exports for their livelihood,” said Palaszczuk.
“We’ve already helped businesses like Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, Natural Evolution Foods at Walkamin, Scorpion Jacks in Townsville, Helimods at Caloundra and Summerland Camel Farm at Harrisville tap into overseas markets.
“Now we want to help even more and there is no better time than to back our exporters to tap into other markets.”
Queensland’s merchandise exports reached $85.3 billion in the 12 months to November 2019 – a rise of $4.4 billion on the same period last year, Palaszczuk said.
It is second only to Western Australia and higher than the value of exports from New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania combined.
Applications for the first round of Go Global grants are now open and close on 28 February 2020. For more information, visit www.tiq.qld.gov.au/goglobal
