Aussie businesses urged to lift exports as trade outlook with the US remains strong

Austrade media release

30 Nov 2006

The prospects for Australian businesses selling their expertise and know-how to the United States continues to look buoyant due to strengthening trade ties and the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries according to Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner to the United States, Geoff Gray.

Washington, DC-based Mr Gray said that the US is Australia’s largest trade and investment partner and is a valuable market for Australian businesses looking to expand internationally.

“Australian businesses should capitalise on the increased market access to the US that has opened up exciting opportunities in sectors as diverse as ICT, services, food and beverages, e-commerce, homeland security and government procurement.
 

“We are now seeing competitive Australian companies succeeding in doing business in areas such as the US$200 billion US Federal Government procurement market, the over US$1 trillion food and beverage market, and selling our agribusiness expertise to American farms that generate over US$200 billion in farm production expenditures each year.

“Whilst India and China are becoming important export markets for Australia, businesses should not overlook the growing opportunities to sell their products and services to the large and sophisticated US market.

“Innovative and creative businesses, small and large, can take advantage of the good reputation that Australia has in the US and target a growing market of 300 million consumers.

“With more than A$41 billion in two-way trade, Australia and the US have a strong and long-term commercial relationship that is resulting in more local businesses succeeding in the US,” Mr Gray said.

Australian businesses are increasingly looking to the United States to do business. Austrade assisted 30 per cent more businesses achieve export sales in the US in 2005-06 than the previous year, with the value of these deals growing by more than 60 per cent.

Since the introduction of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement, the Australian Government has expanded Austrade’s network devoted to the US market. Austrade now provides extensive support for Australian exporters in the US market with representation in 19 US cities, eight specialist industry teams and a dedicated network of USA Export Advisers around Australia.

Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner to the United States, Geoff Gray, is available for interviews.

ENDS

Media contact

Adam Blight
Mob: 0412 890 599 
Email: adam.blight@austrade.gov.au

For further news and information from the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) visit www.austrade.gov.au/mediacentre.