Export champions honoured in record year

Businesses from around the country were today given a unique opportunity to gain insights from Australia’s most innovative and awarded exporters.

Australian Government Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, delivered the keynote address to the high-profile audience at the DHL Top Exporters Breakfast in Melbourne today.

Mr Truss said previous award winners were helping to drive the nation’s export performance to record levels. In 2006, exports reached a record $210 billion – up 16 per cent on 2005.

The Australian Export Awards celebrate the success of the many businesses that have contributed to Australia’s record-breaking export performance. Finalists in last year’s Awards generated more than $12.5 billion in export earnings and directly employed over 36,000 people.

“Today’s function gave budding exporters the opportunity to hear some of the winning strategies Australian companies have used to forge the path to international success.

“Businesses of all sizes and across industries are pushing our export performance to all time highs and we congratulate them for their outstanding contribution.

“Australian products and services are reaching more markets than ever before.

“In 2006, manufacturing exports grew 14 per cent to $42.1 billion; service exports expanded by eight per cent to $43.8 billion; and despite the drought, rural exporters managed to achieve six per cent growth.

“The Australian Government has worked to create the right climate for the development of an exporting nation.”

Mr Truss highlighted a number of Australian Government initiatives which are helping exporters to grow their market, including:

the new $254 dollar ‘Global Opportunities’ program to assist Australian firms win business within global supply chains and major projects;
$11.1 million over two years to extend the Austrade-managed USA export facilitators program; and
support programs such as the renewed and extended Export Market Development Grant scheme for small to medium-sized businesses.

The DHL Top Exporters Breakfast was presented in an interactive panel session.

Panel members for today’s DHL Top Exporters Awards breakfast included representatives from last year’s winners of the Australian Export Awards - Rio Tinto Iron Ore; ResMed; Aconex; Victoria Racing Club; Rising Sun Pictures; and Wild Child.

Media Inquiries: Minister Truss' office 02 6277 7420 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555