- Trade Minister Ros Bates leads global mission across the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Europe.
- New deals and partnerships secured in health tech, finance and energy.
- After a decade of decline under Labor, Queensland exporters now have a global strategy and a government that backs them.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start for Queensland and opening new doors for our exporters and attracting job-creating investment, thanks to a highly successful trade mission abroad.
This week, Minster for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates, concluded the important journey abroad across the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Europe, with more than 35 engagements delivering real outcomes for Queensland businesses.
From Frankfurt to Dubai, the trip focused on building new partnerships in health tech, finance, energy, and trade – all sectors where Queensland has the talent, the resources and the innovation to lead globally.
In Dubai, the Minister hosted a Queensland Exporter Roundtable to strengthen Gulf partnerships.
While in the UK, Gold Coast-based exporter ABI Interiors opened a new 1,440sqm distribution hub near London Gatwick to service European markets.
The Minister also met with Fraunhofer alongside the University of Queensland in Germany to progress energy storage R&D.
The global mission also capitalised on the Queensland-Europe & United Kingdom Trade and Investment Strategy 2025–2028 recently delivered by the Crisafulli Government, as well as the Australia–UK Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA) and the Australia–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Already, the A-UKFTA has seen Queensland beef exports surge from $5.1 million in May 2023 to $94.9 million in June 2025 - a clear sign of what's possible when Queensland exporters are finally backed by a government with a plan.
Similar benefits will be delivered through the CEPA, which was legislated in July 2025. CEPA is unlocking major opportunities for Queensland's food and agriculture sector in particular, including beef, sheep meat, dairy and wine - all areas where the Crisafulli Government is committed to delivering outcomes for Queensland exporters.
This is in sharp contrast to the former Labor Government, who treated investment as an afterthought, failing to deliver a coherent trade strategy and leaving Queensland exporters without the support they needed to compete globally.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the mission was about delivering real outcomes that matter to Queenslanders.
"Queenslanders put their trust in the Crisafulli Government to deliver a Fresh Start - and that's exactly what we're doing," Minister Bates said.
"This mission has opened new markets, secured new partnerships and laid the groundwork for jobs and growth to help build the future of our state and the lifestyle Queenslanders deserve."
"Unlike Labor, which left our exporters behind, we're positioning Queensland at the heart of global trade and investment."
In the year ending July 2025, the European Union was Queensland's sixth-largest goods trading partner with total trade valued at $13.0 billion.
Queensland's beef exports to the UK rose from $5.1 million to $117.8 million since the Australia–UK FTA came into force.
UK visitors spent $571.8 million in Queensland in the year ending March 2025 - a 9.5% increase.
The UAE was Queensland's 26th largest goods trading partner, with total trade of $786.6 million.
