MEDIA RELEASE THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR TRADE

7 December 1997

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NEW EXPORT TRADE LINK FOR REGIONAL AUSTRALIA

The Federal Government will introduce a new trade measure to connect exporters in regional Australia to Austrade and Government services, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Tim Fischer, said today.

Mr Fischer's announcement is a preview of the Government's response to the Mortimer review and Goldsworthy report which is to be officially released tomorrow (Monday).

The new program called TradeStart has been developed in liaison with the Minister for Industry, Science and Tourism, John Moore.

"It will provide an electronic connection between regional Australia and the information services provided by Austrade and other Government organisations," Mr Fischer said.

"It will help regional industry access the range of major initiatives to be announced by the Prime Minister tomorrow, and it is part of the expanded export assistance measures he will announce."

Mr Fischer said, "TradeStart would make information which is virtually "on tap" in the capital cities, much more available to regional and rural Australia."

"It will be supplied through a network of associate offices, run co-operatively with industry associations, State Governments, and the private sector.

"TradeStart is about getting companies from regional Australia into exporting.

"Too often, their location means that these companies face more than a physical barrier to exporting; they face a knowledge barrier as well, simply because they don't have the same access to information and advice as city-based companies.

"TradeStart will provide an electronic bridge over that knowledge barrier, in effect taking Austrade officers and services into their regional businesses," Mr Fischer said.

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