Speech
12 November 2003
At the 2003 Australian Export Awards Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony
Check against delivery
Introduction
…Thank you, Peter (O’Byrne).
- The host of this dinner
- ACCI –Aust. Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Australian Export Award winners and finalists
- Members of the local diplomatic, business and export communities
- State and Federal Parliamentary colleagues
- Ladies and gentlemen
I am honoured to be here this evening, on this the 40th anniversary of the Australian Export Awards.
I think it is symbolic that as we approach the climax of the world’s 3rd largest sporting event –the Rugby World Cup - we also gather here tonight to recognise excellence in the international business arena.
Whilst I can guarantee that we will celebrate an outstanding Australian effort here tonight I am not so confident of that happening in the World Cup….. but nonetheless I remain optimistic!
The Export Awards
Not only are the Australian export Awards one of the longest running business awards programs in Australia, they are now highly regarded in terms of recognising business excellence.
Over the years the Awards have evolved, and continue to do so, to reflect the changing nature of our exports.
The Awards now comprise eleven main award categories ranging from Large Advanced Manufacturer to Arts and Entertainment, from Minerals and Energy to Emerging Exporter.
The Awards cater to all types of enterprises and they demonstrate that Australian companies of all sizes can succeed in overseas markets.
The efforts of regionally based exporters were recognised in 2001 with the introduction of the Regional Exporter of the Year Award and this year the inclusion of a Tourism category acknowledges the outstanding contribution tourism makes to our economy.
Over the past 40 years the Australian Export Awards have built a reputation as a barometer of change in our export sector.
Many of you will be surprised to learn that the inaugural winner of the Awards in 1963, at a time when Australia was well and truly “riding on the sheep’s back”, was in fact a manufacturer of bowling balls from Melbourne.
The company, Henselite, boasted that its products were “exported to more countries than wool”.
The changing face of Australia’s exports
Ladies and gentlemen….
Just as the companies have grown and evolved since the first awards in 1963, so has our export sector as a whole.
In the early 1960’s:
- exports accounted for about 15% per cent of Australia’s GDP; and
- our biggest exports were agricultural products and raw materials, with services accounting for just 13 per cent of total exports
In 2003:
- exports now generate about 20 per cent of our GDP
- exports create one in five jobs in Australia overall and one in four jobs in rural and regional Australia –1.7 million jobs in total
- the tourism industry alone now represents more than 11 % of Australia’s total export earnings, contributing $17 billion annually to the economy.
Clearly our exports have become more diverse.
Commodity exporters remain important players and still account for the lion's share of Australia's total export revenue.
However, other industries are showing clear growth trends. Knowledge-based industries in particular, such as education and financial services have emerged as the main growth area of the export sector over the past decade.
Furthermore, our traditional industries are becoming knowledge players, applying technology and services to their operations.
Many of the so-called "old economy" industries are reinventing themselves in terms of their software technology, service skills and know-how.
New economy technologies can be found in agriculture, mining and manufacturing just as they can be found in financial services and multimedia.
Of course, the changing nature of the goods and services we are exporting is paralleled by the changing nature of the companies who are exporting and the terminology we use for describing them!
- Although still only making a relatively small contribution to Australia’s total export revenue, the number of small exporters is increasing rapidly and their overall fiscal contribution is on the up.
- We are seeing more “younger” exporters –companies who have been in business for less than 5 years –particularly in the knowledge-based industries.
- And we are also seeing another interesting group emerging, the ‘born globals’ –those who start exporting from day one instead of first focusing on the domestic market.
- While 80 per cent of exporters are based in metropolitan areas, regional Australia is showing significant signs of growth. This is due in part to improvements in transport and communications technologies that are reducing the tyranny of distance in regional areas.
Government providing opportunity
Ladies and gentlemen……
These trends in the exporter community bring good news and they reinforce my belief that we are heading in the right direction as far as our trade policy is concerned.
Trade means jobs – 1.7 million Australian jobs (and counting) are now linked to exports.
It has been estimated that even a 10 per cent increase in the number of exporters will lead to an additional 70,000 jobs.
Trade is about improved access to international markets and a fair trading environment.
That is why we continue to work with like-minded countries to build strong momentum for change in the international trading environment
I don’t need to tell you that exposure to international trends and opportunities makes businesses more competitive –you are living proof of that!
But none of this can be realised if you and other like-minded businesses don’t have access to overseas markets.
That is why we are committed to pursuing opportunities for you through:
- The Doha round of the World Trade Organisation negotiations
- Bilateral Free Trade Agreements that have been concluded with Singapore and Thailand and we are working on with the United States
- Closer economic relationships with China, Japan and others….
That is also why we are pursuing, through Austrade, a comprehensive strategy to double the number of Australian exporters by 2006.
To achieve our goal, the Government has implemented a number of practical initiatives to help companies establish international markets for their products and services.
Some of the companies here tonight would have taken advantage of the advice and support provided by Austrade.
- The Federal Government has provided $21.5 million in funding over four years for the TradeStart network to assist small and medium businesses into export in collaboration with our allies and partners. TradeStart is showing companies that they don’t have to be big or located in a capital city to be successful exporters.
- The $150 million Export Market Development Grant Scheme continues
to be one of the government’s most successful programs.
- During 2002/03 3,843 businesses received grants and importantly 33% of these received assistance for the first time.
- 50 out of 74 finalists in this year’s Awards received a grant under the scheme.
- We have also introduced a range of initiatives with State and Territory governments to ensure a bigger bang for our buck and a one-stop shop for export businesses seeking information and advice.
Ladies and gentlemen……
The Coalition Government’s trade policy is ambitious but it is achievable.
Our trade policy is about integrating the opportunity and the practicality.
It is fundamental to Australia’s economic security and your prosperity.
Conclusion
Before I conclude tonight I would also like to take the opportunity to recognise the support of our sponsors and organisers in making tonight’s Awards possible.
The sponsors of the 11 Australian Export Award categories and the Exporter of the Year Award deserve special recognition for their important contribution to raising the profile of exporting in Australia.
When we reflect upon 40 years of Australian Export Awards the strong message for me is that Australian exporters punch well above their weight in the international arena.
The finalists here tonight represent a strong and proud tradition both in terms of the Export Awards and more importantly in terms of our reputation of “getting in and having a go.”
As successful exporters, you do what you do for your businesses and for your employees but I would like to take this opportunity to thank you tonight for what you do for Australia.
Congratulations and good luck.
Thank you.