The NSW North Coast is taking centre stage in a three-day Trade Mission, with 13 international delegates from 11 countries visiting the region to experience its world-class industries, investment opportunities and economic potential.
Home to one of the fastest-growing populations in NSW, with strong links to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and a thriving tourism sector attracting millions of visitors each year, the North Coast offers significant opportunities for investment, innovation and export growth.
Delegates from China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore and Switzerland will visit communities including Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Kempsey, Lismore, Corindi and Woodburn, as well as Chinderah and Tumbulgum.
The region’s diverse economy is driven by thriving sectors including aquaculture, advanced manufacturing, food and beverage manufacturing and controlled environment horticulture, supported by a skilled workforce, strong supply chains and the rapid uptake of new technologies.
The first stop is at Kempsey where Australian hat manufacturer Akubra has its main manufacturing facility. Celebrating 150 years, the Akubra hat is synonymous with Australia and will offer delegates a unique experience of seeing how the products are handcrafted.
The Mission will then visit Planet Lighting in Bellingen which manufactures LEDs and exports products worldwide, including to Paris where their LED puck lights were incorporated into a unique Olympics exhibition. The Olympic Village exhibit features 800 lights in red and amber, symbolising a torchlight festival of ancient Greece, with each puck representing an Olympic medal.
In addition, there are another 800 lights manufactured by Planet Lighting located around various parts of the Olympic Village.
Delegates will also tour the Norco facility in Lismore, which is a fully Australian farmer owned dairy co-operative with 190 dairy farms in northern NSW and south-east Queensland. Norco Food manufactures ice cream, including the Norco Cape Byron brand for domestic and international markets, including exports to Asia.
Other visits include:
- Costa Group – a major supplier of berries and fresh produce to wholesale markets across Australia and internationally, focussing on innovation, sustainable growing practices and regional employment.
- SeaO2Nutrition – a biotechnology company producing nutrient rich Nannochloropsis microalgae, which showcases innovative, land-based cultivation and advanced processing techniques supporting sustainable food, nutrition and industrial applications.
- Australian Bay Lobster Producers – an aquaculture business specialising in the sustainable farming and sourcing of premium Bay Lobster. It combines land‑based aquaculture, biotechnology and collaborative wild‑catch fisheries to produce high‑quality seafood for domestic and international markets.
- Husk Distillery – a regional spirits manufacturer which produces cane-to-bottle rum and gin using on-site cultivation and processing, with products distributed nationally and exported across the Asia-Pacific region.
The site visits will allow the Consul-Generals and other high-ranking delegates to witness business operations first-hand, meet with owner-operators and discuss potential future partnerships and trade.
The Trade Mission is part of the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to drive growth, create jobs and promote investment in regional NSW.
To date, the initiative has supported eight Trade Missions in regional NSW locations such as the Hunter, South Coast, Riverina and Central West.
Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
“The North Coast is a powerhouse of regional NSW, with world-class industries, a skilled workforce and the innovation needed to compete in global markets.”
“By bringing international delegates to the North Coast, we’re opening doors for local businesses, attracting investment and creating new opportunities for jobs and economic growth.”
“This Trade Mission puts the North Coast on the world stage, showcasing the region’s strengths in export industries, innovation and high-value production.”
“Regional NSW has enormous potential, and this Trade Mission is about building global connections that deliver lasting benefits for local communities, businesses and workers.”
Minister for Industry and Trade, Anoulack Chanthivong said:
“Trade missions like this ensure regional communities are at the forefront of economic growth, helping to strengthen and diversify local economies and create sustainable opportunities for the future.
“By strengthening relationships with international partners, we’re opening the door for more exports, more investment, and more jobs for people in the North Coast and across the state.”
Minister for North Coast, Janelle Saffin said:
“I am thrilled to welcome this international delegation to the beautiful North Coast to see firsthand the incredible innovation coming out of our regional communities.
“From handcrafted manufacturing in Kempsey to pioneering lighting technology in Bellingen and world-class dairy production in Lismore, our local businesses are proving that regional NSW can compete on the global stage.
“This trade mission is a fantastic opportunity to back our local owner-operators, support regional jobs, and build the long-term international partnerships that will help our communities continue to thrive.”
Case study: Akubra
The first stop is at Kempsey, home to Akubra’s workshop.
Celebrating 150 years, the Akubra hat is synonymous with Australia and remains one of the country’s most iconic handcrafted products.
Akubra CEO Natalie Culina said:
“Akubra is genuinely Australian – its craftsmanship and its character. That authenticity is what has defined our brand for 150 years, and what will resonate with new markets and the next generation of Australians.”
Case Study: Planet Lighting
Planet Lighting is a Bellingen-based business that specialises in LED lighting, architectural, medical, veterinary and aquaculture applications.
No stranger to the global market, the company’s puck lights feature in the Paris and Berlin Metro stations, Swedish Museum of Natural History, the Tauranga Pedestrian Overbridge in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, and closer to home, the Katoomba Falls Night-lit walk.
More recently, Planet Lighting’s LEDs lit up the Paris skies during the 2024 Olympics as part of a unique exhibition featuring 800 lights in red and amber.
Planet Lighting Director Mia Iggulden said:
“Our products are made in Australia and exported to the world, so our business model has evolved and adapted to changes in the market for more than 100 years.
“We have had the privilege to be part of some major global events like the Paris Olympics, which incorporated our LED puck lights in such a creative way, and major projects like the Berlin and Paris Metro stations, which are all a source of pride for our team.
“Being part of the NSW Trade Mission is a wonderful opportunity to show off what we’re currently achieving on a local and a global scale and discuss potential opportunities going forward.”
