Published Friday, 03 October, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Tropical Expertise playing match maker for Global Opportunities
A new State Government initiative will help companies from Mackay to Cairns sell their “tropical expertise” to the rest of the world.
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle today announced $90,000 would go to a new project that will help local firms in Mackay, Townsville and Cairns tender for international projects.
“Tropical expertise is an emerging sector and its value should not be underestimated,” Ms Boyle said.
“North and Far North Queensland are two of the only tropical regions in the world with a developed economy and there are many local firms that are export-ready with their tropical expertise.
“We want to help identify upcoming international business opportunities, match these with local firms or organise a group of local firms to develop consortium bids – the Tropical Expertise Business Matching for Global Opportunities Project will help do that.”
Ms Boyle said the project was specifically designed to help local firms successfully tender for projects involving international development agencies.
“It will teach local companies about the opportunities and the skills needed to compete on a global scale,” she said.
“It will also help them to identify their key strengths and unique niche markets where they will do best.”
Ms Boyle said a pilot project conducted by the State Government from February to June this year had been successful.
“It demonstrated strong interest, commitment and support for the initiatives contained in the global opportunities project,” she said.
“As a result, more than 20 organisations expressed interest in considering eight International Development Agency projects.
“Two of these projects are now being pursued by regional organisations for tender.”
Local architect, Tim Bentley, of Thomson Adsett and Bentley who took part in the pilot program, said Thomson Adsett Bentley and other firms across a range of industries have a lot to offer in terms of tropical expertise and the business matching project is coming just at the right time.
“We have been moving into the South East Asian market for some time but this project will definitely move things forward at a rapid pace not just for us but for other firms as well,” Mr Bentley said.
“By operating, living and doing business in a tropical region for many years companies located here in the tropics have developed strong expertise that can be passed on with the confidence of first hand experience. The expertise has been developed to deal with the tropical climes. Selling that expertise into other markets is the next step and this project will help move that along.”
“As a result of the pilot program we were able to lodge an expression of interest for a Fiji project that we would not normally get access to. It’s early days yet, however this initiative has directed us on the right path. .”
Ms Boyle also announced G.K. Consulting contractor, Mr Graham Poon, would assist the project.
“The former Austrade Commissioner (Manila) will work closely with the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry’s Cairns Centre and his experience will no doubt prove to be invaluable,” she said.
Ms Boyle said the global opportunities project would also be expanded this year to include tropical health, agribusiness and living.
“The State Government has a number of projects and initiatives in place to help the North Queensland region to grow and prosper,” she said.
Ends
Media contact: Kirstie Maier 3225 1005 or 0448 135 195
3 October 2008
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle today announced $90,000 would go to a new project that will help local firms in Mackay, Townsville and Cairns tender for international projects.
“Tropical expertise is an emerging sector and its value should not be underestimated,” Ms Boyle said.
“North and Far North Queensland are two of the only tropical regions in the world with a developed economy and there are many local firms that are export-ready with their tropical expertise.
“We want to help identify upcoming international business opportunities, match these with local firms or organise a group of local firms to develop consortium bids – the Tropical Expertise Business Matching for Global Opportunities Project will help do that.”
Ms Boyle said the project was specifically designed to help local firms successfully tender for projects involving international development agencies.
“It will teach local companies about the opportunities and the skills needed to compete on a global scale,” she said.
“It will also help them to identify their key strengths and unique niche markets where they will do best.”
Ms Boyle said a pilot project conducted by the State Government from February to June this year had been successful.
“It demonstrated strong interest, commitment and support for the initiatives contained in the global opportunities project,” she said.
“As a result, more than 20 organisations expressed interest in considering eight International Development Agency projects.
“Two of these projects are now being pursued by regional organisations for tender.”
Local architect, Tim Bentley, of Thomson Adsett and Bentley who took part in the pilot program, said Thomson Adsett Bentley and other firms across a range of industries have a lot to offer in terms of tropical expertise and the business matching project is coming just at the right time.
“We have been moving into the South East Asian market for some time but this project will definitely move things forward at a rapid pace not just for us but for other firms as well,” Mr Bentley said.
“By operating, living and doing business in a tropical region for many years companies located here in the tropics have developed strong expertise that can be passed on with the confidence of first hand experience. The expertise has been developed to deal with the tropical climes. Selling that expertise into other markets is the next step and this project will help move that along.”
“As a result of the pilot program we were able to lodge an expression of interest for a Fiji project that we would not normally get access to. It’s early days yet, however this initiative has directed us on the right path. .”
Ms Boyle also announced G.K. Consulting contractor, Mr Graham Poon, would assist the project.
“The former Austrade Commissioner (Manila) will work closely with the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry’s Cairns Centre and his experience will no doubt prove to be invaluable,” she said.
Ms Boyle said the global opportunities project would also be expanded this year to include tropical health, agribusiness and living.
“The State Government has a number of projects and initiatives in place to help the North Queensland region to grow and prosper,” she said.
Ends
Media contact: Kirstie Maier 3225 1005 or 0448 135 195
3 October 2008