The Australian Government and industry groups have launched a new network aimed at helping Australian exporters expand into new markets and strengthen trade diversification efforts.
Trade and Tourism Minister Senator Don Farrell officially launched the Trade Diversification Network (TDN) on 4 March at Parliament House, according to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission.
The network brings together 40 national peak bodies representing a wide range of industries to work with government in supporting exporters to grow and enter new markets.
More than 30 representatives from the participating organisations attended the launch event, which highlighted collaboration between government agencies and industry.
Among those present were Cathy Raper, First Assistant Secretary and Australia–EU Free Trade Agreement Chief Negotiator at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Austrade chief executive Dr Paul Grimes; and Jay Meek, general manager of the Trade Diversification Taskforce at Austrade.
The TDN forms part of the Accessing New Markets Initiative (ANMI), a $50 million program jointly delivered by Austrade and industry. The initiative is designed to assist Australian exporters in diversifying their export markets and pursuing new growth opportunities in a changing global trade environment.
Speaking at the launch, Farrell said closer cooperation between government and industry would be necessary as international trade conditions evolve.
“We can’t do this alone,” he said. “We need to work together in what is an increasingly unstable world situation.”
Farrell added that Australia continues to be regarded as a reliable trading partner known for high-quality products and services. “We need to keep the trade momentum going,” he said.
Grimes said Austrade is strengthening its collaboration with national peak industry bodies to develop targeted activities tailored to the needs of different sectors. He said the partnership between Austrade’s global network and industry organisations would help deliver long-term outcomes for exporters.
“By pairing Austrade’s global network, practical market intelligence and trade services with the capabilities of peak industry bodies, ANMI will deliver support with enduring outcomes to help businesses diversify,” he said.
Meek also acknowledged the contribution of TDN members in developing Trade Diversification Plans, which outline activities intended to support Australian exporters in expanding into new markets and growing their presence in existing ones.
Industry representatives attending the launch said the network could provide new opportunities for collaboration and capability building across sectors.
Amy Crosland, chief operating officer of the Australian Sports Technologies Network, said the TDN would provide smaller industry bodies with access to a broader network of organisations.
“One of the things that I think is exciting about the TDN is access to the broader network of the other peak bodies,” Crosland said. “We are a smaller peak body, but we have a lot of crossover and cross-collaboration with other industries and other sectors.”
Christopher Young, general manager for trade and economics at the National Farmers’ Federation, said the network could help align industry and government responses to global market uncertainty.
“The key benefit we see is that this will allow a true industry and government response to uncertain times that we’re seeing in global markets, by having a framework to bring industry and the businesses they represent into government,” he said.
Austrade said the ANMI complements a range of existing export support programs and services, including the Go Global Toolkit and Export Academy, the Southeast Asia and South Asia Business Exchange programs, trade missions and events, and the Export Market Development Grants scheme.
