- The Crisafulli Government is backing regional businesses to achieve their dreams of exporting into international markets.
- Regional roadshow delivers practical export support directly to small and family businesses.
- Sunshine Coast event during Queensland Small Business Month is the first of four stops across the State.
- Queensland is open for business under the Crisafulli Government, after Labor's decade of decline saw our regions neglected.
The Crisafulli Government is helping small and family business owners in regional Queensland step onto the world stage by delivering hands-on trade expertise to reach their international goals.
The first Queensland Exporter Regional Roadshow will bring together experienced exporters, trade advisors and government support to help regional businesses start their global trade journey, starting on the Sunshine Coast as part of Queensland Small Business Month.
The roadshow will be in Cairns, Rockhampton and Townsville later in the year as the Crisafulli Government continues its reset of the State's trade agenda.
It's just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland's future and a better lifestyle through a stronger economy.
The initiative is in stark contrast to Labor's decade of decline that saw support focused in the south east, leaving regional businesses to navigate export opportunities alone.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the Crisafulli Government was determined to restore support for regional exporters after a decade of decline and Labor neglect.
"Regional businesses should not have to fight harder for export opportunities simply because of where they are located," Minister Bates said.
"The Crisafulli Government is taking trade expertise directly into regional communities because small and family businesses deserve the same access to support, advice and international opportunities to help them realise their global ambitions, wherever they are based."
Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin said the roadshow was designed with the needs of small and family businesses firmly in mind.
"Small and family businesses are the backbone of regional Queensland and a vital part of our economy," Minister Minnikin said.
"We are delivering a packed program this Queensland Small Business Month to help small businesses build resilience, embrace innovation and seize opportunities.
"This roadshow delivers hands-on, localised support that helps small and family businesses reach new markets."
Sunshine Coast export business Six Zero Pickleball is one example of a regional Queensland company succeeding on the global stage.
Six Zero Pickleball Director Dale Young said the family-owned Sunshine Coast business had grown from a simple idea into a global exporter.
"We're a family-owned business that manufactures, designs and exports pickleball equipment. We're very fortunate that we're able to do that from the Sunshine Coast," Mr Young said.
"We are one of these accidental entrepreneurial type businesses that spawned out of a simple idea to improve a pickleball paddle and next thing we know we're exporting to more than a hundred countries. We would love to see more businesses like ours come through and succeed.
"Trade and Investment Queensland has provided a supportive network to assist us in reaching new markets and adding value into our emerging and growing existing markets."
