Guy Barnett,Minister for Trade
The Tasmanian Liberal Government will provide our exporters with new opportunities through today’s release of our Draft New Zealand Integrated Trade Strategy.
For many Tasmanian exporters, New Zealand is a strong, mature and familiar market, and our annual exports over the last five years are valued up to $110 million per year.
The resumption of direct flights between Tasmania and New Zealand provides new and expanded opportunities to develop mutual trade and tourism prospects.
Throughout the COVID-19 global disruptions, trade continues to be a key driver of jobs, innovation and growth in the Tasmanian economy. Further growing our trade with New Zealand will support our economic recovery and unlock even greater capacity for Tasmanian businesses to thrive.
The draft strategy provides a high-level framework for Tasmanian exporters, identifies potential growth sectors and provides targeted support to allow Tasmanian businesses to maximise the potential of those export opportunities.
This aligns with the Tasmanian Government’s overarching Trade Strategy priorities of building trade in key markets, showcasing Tasmania in priority markets, supporting trade logistics and market access, and building capabilities of Tasmanian businesses to grow exports.
We are currently consulting on the draft strategy with key industry stakeholders with a view to finalising it following the planned trade and tourism mission when borders permit.
This comes on the back of Tasmania breaking the $4 billion mark in exports for the first time of which the mining and minerals sector contributed 63 per cent and seafood, meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables 19.7 per cent.
