SMALL regional businesses in the southwest of Western Australia are being encouraged to look overseas for markets.
The state government is offering $600,000 over three years through its TradeStart program in the South West and Great Southern regions to encourage smaller businesses to consider export markets.
The funding goes to TradeStart advisor programs being run by the South West Development Commission (SWDC) and Great Southern Development Commission (GSDC).
It aims to enhance trade opportunities and support predominantly small to medium-sized local businesses in expanding their reach to international markets.
A state government media release issued on 4 February said that GSDC and SWDC have provided export advisory services to regional businesses for more than 20 years through direct engagement, including inbound and outbound trade missions.
The release claimed recent outcomes of the program include exports of more than $4.7 million of food and $1.6 million of wine to eight countries.
“This work is undertaken in collaboration with key partners such as Austrade, the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation’s Invest and Trade WA offices, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, Wines of Western Australia and other industry bodies to provide substantial value to regional economies by leveraging existing competitive advantages,” the release said.
“The allocation of funding will allow SWDC and GSDC to continue providing export advisory services to a wide range of businesses, offering high-quality specialist business development advice, and supporting international trade capacity and capability through targeted trade activities.”
