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May 2004
EXPORT AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES Five Tasmanian IT companies were part of a Tasmanian presence at CeBIT Australia 2004, Australasia’s leading exhibition for information and communications technology targeted at IT professionals. CeBIT was held in Sydney from 4-6 May 2004. Participating Tasmanian companies included Crank Media, Etech Tasmania, Getbusi, Optio and Viewbuild. As well as attending the exhibition, the companies participated in a number of other business matching activities to meet new potential partners or referral agencies for their products and services. Activities included a series of seminars targeted at the secondary and university education segment in New South Wales; a networking event on the Tasmania stand featuring the national launch of a new innovative Tasmanian software product; and a Taste of Tasmania luncheon for a visiting overseas delegation. The Tasmanian CeBIT stand was designed for companies doing national or international business or seeking to develop new market partnerships and business. Through the Tasmania stand, the Department of Economic Development was able to provide Tasmanian IT enterprises with access to new business opportunities and help them to cost-effectively further develop their own corporate branding under a Tasmanian banner. For more details or to register your interest in attending CeBIT Australia 2005, please contact Mark Warrener on 6233 5879 or email Mark.Warrener@development.tas.gov.au. The Department of Economic Development, in partnership with the Austrade office in Seoul - Korea, is currently facilitating a visit to Tasmania by a delegation of Korean furniture buyers in July. The visit will leverage on the strong interest shown in January when a Tasmanian furniture delegation exhibited in Seoul. A number of Tasmanian furniture companies with current interest and commitment to export to Korea are working with Economic Development on planning and pre-visit requirements for the visit. Tasmanian furniture companies that have an interest, capacity and commitment to consider Korea as a potential export market should contact Kim McShane on 6233 5828 or email kim.mcshane@development.tas.gov.au. Food and beverage promotion – Dubai Economic Development is supporting a food promotion at the five-star JW's Steakhouse Restaurant in collaboration with the J W Marriott Dubai. The promotion will run throughout May and June and incorporate Tasmanian beef, lamb, seafood, condiments and confectionery. Chef Christian Heidenreich from Devonport’s Petuna Seafoods spent two weeks at JW's Steakhouse Restaurant educating the chefs and the waiting staff on the attributes of our products and the Tasmanian story. The identified area of opportunity in Dubai is in the food service sector for mainly four and five-star establishments. Product is currently being consolidated in Melbourne and a number of UAE based importers have been identified. For further information, please contact George Chambers on 6233 5888 or email George.Chambers@development.tas.gov.au.
During March 2004, Economic Development coordinated a trade mission to London to facilitate international business opportunities for the Tasmanian ICT sector. A number of Tasmanian ICT companies either participated directly in the mission or benefited from market intelligence gathered during the visit. This mission was a follow-up to a similar trade mission during January 2004 when a number of Tasmanian ICT companies operating in the eLearning sector visited the UK and attended a major international trade exhibition, the British Education Technology Show. All participating companies had a very positive experience and business outcomes are expected. Economic Development is responsive to industry initiatives and industry groupings are invited to contact the department if they would like to pursue an international marketing activity. Trade Minister Mark Vaile encouraged Australian exporters of all sizes to enter the 2004 Australian Export Awards at the official launch in Melbourne on Thursday 6 May 2004. Minister for Economic Development Lara Giddings will the launch the 2004 Tasmanian Export Awards program in June. The 2004 awards are looking for the next wave of Australian companies who are leaders in their fields and who have achieved outstanding successes on the international stage. Exports account for nearly a quarter of Australia's income and more than one in five Australian jobs - one in four in regional Australia. These awards raise the profile of Australian business capability and pave the way for other local companies to trade internationally. The Tasmanian Export Awards program recognises achievers in 10 categories and culminates in the prestigious Tasmanian Export of the Year Award. For more information, please contact Ann Atkinson on 6233 5838 or email Ann.Atkinson@development.tas.gov.au. The Department of Economic Development coordinated the participation of eight Tasmanian companies at the recent Fine Food Queensland exhibition. Exhibitors included Doran's Fine Foods, Cripps Nubake, Ashmore Fine Foods, Country Larder, Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company, Naturally Nichols, Huon Valley Mushrooms and Island Olive Grove Tasmania. New distribution agreements arrangements were put in place by three of the participating companies and others reported strong interest in products not previously available in Queensland. The Tasmanian stand took out the Best Stand Award at the exhibition.
Economic Development inward buyer program The Department of Economic Development’s inward buyer program is a cost-effective means of exposing a number of Tasmanian exporters to new markets and opportunities. In recent months, the department has hosted inbound delegations from Singapore, Malaysia, China, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Many of these visits are as a result of direct contact from the department’s existing international networks. The program is industry based, providing business matching opportunities for a number of businesses. Tasmanian export companies are encouraged to refer any potential international importer to the department to expand the number of opportunities. Any enquiries regarding the program should be referred to Kim McShane on 6233 5828 or email kim.mcshane@development.tas.gov.au. Tasmanian Food and Beverage Guide – online The Department of Economic Development maintains the Tasmanian Food and Beverage Guide, which lists Tasmanian businesses that are currently supplying, or are interested in supplying, interstate or export markets with Tasmanian product. The guide was previously only available in hardcopy, but it is now available online through BizTas - the free online Tasmanian Government business directory. The guide can be viewed at www.biztas.com/entrypoint/foodandbeverage. Individual businesses are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and currency of their entry. The guide is still managed by the Department of Economic Development and will continue to be used to facilitate trade for the Tasmanian food and beverage industry by identifying appropriate businesses for trade opportunities, organising overseas and interstate trade missions, organising trade exhibitions and promotions and facilitating inward buyer missions. Any enquiries regarding the guide should be directed to Lisa Denny on 6233 5902 or email Lisa.Denny@development.tas.gov.au. Tasmania defied the national trend and recorded its best export performance on record last financial year. Tasmania’s Minister for Economic Development, Lara Giddings, said that the value of state exports increased from $2.02 billion in 1998-99 to $2.454 billion in 2002-03. This was despite total national exports dropping by four per cent in 2002-03 to $148 billion. The figures were highlighted in the Australia’s Trade by State and Territory Report, released in Hobart on Friday 7 May at a ministerial meeting headed by Federal Trade Minister Mark Vaille. It showed Australia’s export revenues were adversely affected by a subdued global trading environment, the strengthening Australian dollar, the SARS virus and the drought. “Some of our major markets in East Asia were severely affected by the SARS outbreak which affected our fresh food exports, particularly some from Tasmania in the lobster, oyster and abalone industries and fresh fruit,” Mr Vaille said. (The Mercury, Saturday 8 May 2004, page 29) Cascade Autumn Amber wins accolade Local Tasmanian brewer Cascade, a subsidiary company of Carlton & United Breweries, recently received worldwide acclaim at the 2004 World Beer Cup in the United States. Cascade’s Autumn Amber beat a number of North American breweries in the American-style amber lager section to take the gold medal. The company also received a bronze medal in the American-style wheat beer category with its Summer Blonde beer. This accolade further substantiates Tasmania’s position in the international market as a supplier of premium quality food and beverages. Economic Development staff member named Office Professional of the Year Debbie Marshall from the Department of Economic Development was named Tasmanian Office Professional of the Year in the senior category at an official presentation by Minister for Education Paula Wriedt on Friday 7 May 2004. The Australian Institute of Office Professionals (AIOP) is the only national organisation for business office professionals that initiates, promotes and supports the continuous personal and professional development of its members. Each year, AIOP recognises a worthy office professional member in each state through the Office Professional of the Year Award. Applicants must show that they have contributed to office excellence practices in their workplace, be nominated by a senior manager and go through a rigorous interview process. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES Economic Development and KPMG are presenting a two-session risk management workshop in Launceston. Session one (May 20) will cover risk management theory and risk identification and session two (June 17) will cover risk measurement and mitigation. The workshop is designed for those in companies that develop and manage policy on various aspects of the export transaction. This may include general managers, CEOs, marketing managers, production managers and CFOs. The workshop’s objective is to develop a portfolio of ‘risk records’ based on KPMG’s proprietary business risk assessment methodology, which is consistent with Australian and New Zealand Risk Management Standard AS/NZ 4360:1999. The workshop will be conducted by Alistair McDougall of KPMG. The fee for the workshop is subsidised by the Department of Economic Development so that participation will cost $95 all-inclusive per participant. If you are interested in participating, please contact Martin Turmine on 6233 5795 or email Martin.Turmine@development.tas.gov.au. Export Marketing Through Dynamic Presentations - - A workshop on preparing and delivering a dynamic presentation to anyone in an export market. As part of the Department of Economic Development's ongoing commitment to increasing the number of exporters, it is conducting a workshop to build your presentation skills for export markets. The workshop will be delivered by professional speaker, business educator and master facilitator David Penglase who is an expert in the field of organisational ethics and values, specifically increasing sales and service. This workshop is suitable for people who feel that their sales message is not getting through to potential buyers or who have trouble in articulating the benefits of their product/service to potential buyers. A session will be held in Hobart on 23 June 2004 and Launceston on 24 June 2004. For details, contact Martin Turmine on 6233 5795 or email Martin.Turmine@development.tas.gov.au. Improving logistics management: A role for RFID technology Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of logistics management has emerged as a key strategy for increasing business competitiveness and profitability. However, it is evident that a number of key challenges continue to be faced by businesses implementing this strategy. New information technologies including Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) have been shown to enhance logistics management by improving data flow and accuracy at lower cost. By combining RFID and the internet, many businesses have been able to radically improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their logistics management systems. Researchers at the University of Tasmania’s School of Information Systems are currently investigating the deployment and use of new information and communication technology (ICT) including RFID in logistics management. They have already been involved in the Tasmanian Logistics Online (TLO) project and have connections with Exago, an RFID technology provider. More specifically, the research being conducted is examining the feasibility of new ICTs like RFID for improving export logistics of perishable goods, such as seafoods, dairy products and other agricultural produce. In this regard, researchers at the School of Information Systems would welcome contact with businesses interested to participate or contribute to this on-going work. Please contact:
Showcasing Innovation Workshop The Department of Economic Development, in conjunction with Austrade, the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Invest Australia and AusIndustry, is running a workshop for export-orientated companies under the banner of Showcasing Innovation. This workshop is geared towards innovative Australian firms in the IT space who wish to participate in technology trade events overseas. The modules being presented at the workshop are:
Leading technology consultant Marcus Powe of EIC Growth, in tandem with senior partners from professional services firms and relevant Federal and State Government agencies, will not only advise firms on how to position their innovative products and services but also offer them the most cost-efficient solutions for participation. The workshop will be held on 31 May 2004 from 8am to 4.45pm at the Hobart Function and Conference Centre, Vengeance Room, Elizabeth Street Pier, Hobart. There is no charge to attend. For more details or to register your attendance, please contact Mark Warrener on 6233 5879 or email Mark.Warrener@development.tas.gov.au. BRIEF NEWS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES Australia - China Free Trade Agreement joint feasibility study The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is currently conducting a study to assess the opportunities and challenges to Australian business of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China. The study will be used as the basis for the Australian and Chinese Governments’ eventual decision on whether or not to pursue an FTA. DFAT is inviting public submissions and comment on issues relevant to the joint FTA feasibility study. Submissions may be lodged at any time before Friday 18 June 2004. Contact DFAT on 02 6261 3113 or email chinafta@dfat.gov.au for further information. 2003 Competition Index - How does Tasmania compare? The Competition Index is an objective assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of undertaking business in Tasmanian relative to other Australian states and New Zealand. It provides a guide of Tasmania’s relative competitiveness to aid attraction of investment and re-investment. Overall, Tasmania is ranked most favourably for 13 of the 30 indices confirming Tasmania is already a very competitive place to do business. To find out more about Tasmania's advantages and challenges, check out the index on the web here. The TradEx Scheme provides relief to people or organisations via an upfront exemption from customs duty and GST on imported goods intended for re-export or to be used as inputs to exports. The scheme removes the need to 'drawback' these charges after export. For more information, visit the AusIndustry website. The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) helps Australian companies win overseas business for their products and services. Austrade is represented in 105 locations in 58 countries including an extensive domestic network throughout Australia. Austrade's business development specialists have prepared a range of more than 450 industry and country profiles providing valuable assistance with market research. The profiles can be selected on an industry or country basis or both. Simply follow this link to see the library of profiles- http://www.austrade.gov.au/australia/layout/0,,0_S2-1_CLNTXID0019-2_-3_-4_-5_-6_-7_,00.html. The Brand Tasmania Council was established in July 1999 to formulate and promote a place-of-origin branding initiative for Tasmania. Its members include leaders of the private sector and representatives of Tourism Tasmania and the Department of Economic Development. The council's principal objectives are to heighten the profile, quality and value of Tasmanian products and services in the marketplace and to encourage a broad-based ownership of the Tasmanian brands by Tasmanian enterprises and the community. The council promotes a strong, positive perception of Tasmania by connecting its recognised natural values to the resourcefulness, innovation and creativity of its people, through the Brand Tasmania®. For more information on Brand Tasmania, visit http://www.brandtasmania.com/home.htm. Austrade receives many inquires about Australian products and services from its offices around the world. If you are interested in reviewing its active inquiry list, please visit the Austrade website. DFAT travel advisories are the Australian Government’s advice to its citizens regarding the perceived travel risks and precautions that individuals should exercise. More information can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs website.
If you have any export and market development queries please email at info@development.tas.gov.au or call 03 6233 5888. If you wish to subscribe to ExportActive please send an email to info@development.tas.gov.au with the words "ExportActive Newsletter Subscription" in the subject heading.
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GPO
Box 646, Hobart, 7001, Tasmania, Australia 22 Elizabeth Street, Hobart, 7000 Telephone: +61 3 6233 5888 Facsimile: +61 3 6233 5800 Email: info@development.tas.gov.au Internet: http://www.development.tas.gov.au |
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Export and Market Development Activities
