Building the Queensland brand: expanding on our strengths, successes and recognition to take Queensland to the world
In the international context, Queensland’s economy is small. To increase Queensland’s profile on the world stage, we will concentrate our efforts on our strengths and consolidate our successes to extend and promote our world brand.
We will continue to support and strengthen the international competitiveness of our established industries such as agriculture, mining, tourism and business services.
We will target industry sectors that have a strong future growth potential based on our competitive strengths. To give these sectors a further competitive edge, the Queensland Government will devise extensive strategies integrating skills, research, development, commercialisation, diffusion and links to our interstate and overseas markets.
As Queensland’s emerging industries become more established, our focus will shift increasingly towards helping them to grow in size and scale to achieve global penetration and branding. Exports energise the State’s economy, allowing many Queensland enterprises to expand their business and create more jobs and wealth. Trade is also a significant vehicle for encouraging Queensland industry to capitalise on international innovations. We will support our existing and emerging industries to export their products, services and know-how.
The Queensland Government will:
- develop Smart Sector Strategies in partnership with industry, business, education and research providers. These will integrate education, research, technology adoption, sustainability, skilling, infrastructure and export issues. Strategies will focus on areas that demonstrate a strong growth potential and are linked with our strengths. Our initial priorities include:
- information and communication technology
- creative industries
- business services
- biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals
- food and agribusiness
- advanced manufacturing
- aviation and aerospace
- business events
- marine industries
- clean coal technology
- environmental technologies, goods and services.
- focus funding on competitive industry sectors. Queensland Government incentives, financial assistance and investment programs will be targeted at industry sectors where Queensland has an existing or emerging competitive advantage. These programs include the Queensland Investment Incentives Scheme and Queensland Industry Development Scheme. Focusing these programs will provide a greater stimulus to the growth of businesses in sectors where Queensland has an advantage and the potential to lead the world.
E-Security
As e-commerce becomes a standard for conducting business – from websites to online banking, shopping and business transactions – e-security is now big business globally. Queensland is internationally recognised as a leader in the e-security industry and has the strongest capability outside North America. Our e-security industry is at the leading edge of research and development including threat and vulnerability assessment, data encryption, secure communications and transactions, forensics and intrusion detection. This research and technology is crucial for providing confidence, privacy and security for internet users worldwide.
- implement Smart ICT – Taking it to the World, an $18.5 million package of initiatives, to raise the profile of the information communication and technology (ICT) industry. The industry currently employs an estimated 56 000 Queenslanders and has annual revenue of $14.6 billion. Overseas exports are worth $850 million. The challenge for the Queensland Government and the industry is to work together to grow exports, and build more jobs and income. The initiatives focus on promoting Queensland’s capabilities in international markets, facilitating partnerships between large corporations and local companies, and accessing specialised markets where Queensland has strong competitive strengths.
- continue to implement Export Solutions, to pursue export opportunities for Queensland businesses. The Queensland Government will target knowledge intensive exports and focus on expanding Queensland’s export capacity and capabilities. By successfully tapping into interstate and overseas markets, Queensland businesses have the opportunity to generate greater revenues and ultimately create more jobs back home.
- fund the Queensland Ethanol Industry Action Plan to:
- raise public awareness of, and confidence in, ethanol blended fuels
- increase domestic demand and export capacity
- create links between industry and the Queensland Government to promote a market for ethanol
- assist the development of retail and distribution networks.
- The Action Plan has two elements: marketing, communications and promotions; and a rebate scheme to stimulate investment and infrastructure provision including point-of-sale infrastructure and an efficient distribution network. The Plan will help grow a new emerging industry for Queensland and allow Queensland’s cane and grain farmers to diversify their businesses.
- invest $4 million in the Queensland Aquaculture Development Initiative to strengthen the economic development of major aquaculture growth sectors such as prawns and barramundi and emerging sectors such as crabs, sea scallops and reef fish. The initiative will provide additional research and development resources to support the industry’s continued expansion in a sustainable way. Queensland’s aquaculture industry is well placed to satisfy Queenslanders’ taste for fresh seafood as well as feed the export market.
- develop new Asian markets for horticulture by using Queensland’s advantage in tropical and sub-tropical horticulture and its close proximity to key Asian markets to develop and expand new export opportunities. Queensland is already a substantial exporter, exporting over $243 million in vegetables and fruit in 2003-2004. We will build on this base and continue the transformation from a commodity supplier to a value-added product exporter, focusing on the mango industry as a trial. The Queensland Government, in partnership with industry and private and public sector providers, will identify critical gaps hindering the industry’s capacity for expansion and the barriers to export.
- continue to apply our research and development to strengthen the competitive edge of primary industry exports. Leading technologies and processes adopted by Queensland’s primary producers have lead to vast improvements in productivity through increased yields and improved products. Research and development has also improved sustainability outcomes including reducing water and pesticide usage on crops, benefiting producers, consumers and the environment.
The Strategies will concentrate on our existing and emerging competitive strengths within those broader industry sectors. Business will benefit from strategies in their sector aimed at ensuring that the right mix of people, skills and technology is available to improve productivity, competitiveness and profitability.