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Trading our way out of the COVID-19 downturn

12 November, 2020

Jeremy Rockliff MP

Minister for Trade

2020-21 Budget: Trading our way out of the COVID-19 downturn

The 2020-21 State Budget includes an additional $2.65 million to deliver the Tasmanian Trade Strategy and to implement the Interim Trade Action Plan, ensuring we use our island’s competitive strengths to help rebuild from COVID-19.

This investment will boost returns to Tasmanian businesses over the long term and get us back on track towards our target of growing the value of our exports to $15 billion a year by 2050.

The Interim Trade Action Plan addresses the immediate needs of businesses and exporters that have been affected by disruptions to global trade and supply chains in 2020.

Before COVID-19, our trade sector was worth some $5 billion a year to the Tasmanian economy, and we recognise the important role trade now has to play in our economic recovery.

In 2020-21 this new funding will help deliver the 41 trade growth initiatives identified by the Interim Plan, including;

  • A revitalised Accelerating Trade Grant Program to assist businesses to re-connect and re-establish trade in key markets;
  • A Trade Alliance Program which will support collaborative projects which aim to build on competitive advantages, develop solutions to trade challenges and grow trade;
  • Developing an Asian Market Engagement Plan to support exporters in identifying new opportunities across the Asia region;
  • Recruiting three new in-market representatives to be located in Singapore, Japan and the United States of America;
  • A feasibility study for a Tasmanian-branded marketplace on global e-commerce giant Amazon; and
  • Partnering with Brand Tasmania to launch a new Tasmanian showcase website and new trade marketing campaigns.

We understand the significance of trade to the Tasmanian economy and have already commenced many of these initiatives to ensure that we can continue to take our products to the world.

The Tasmanian manufacturing sector will also play a pivotal role in our trade growth and will be supported with the soon to be released Advanced Manufacturing Action Plan.

For more information of the Tasmanian Trade Strategy and Interim Trade Action Plan go to www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/business/trade/tasmanian_trade_strategy