Page 1306 - Week 04 - Thursday, 8 May 2014
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We continue the work of the red tape reduction panel, inviting new members onto the panel to assist the government with the task of further deregulation in our economy. As part of the COAG deregulation agenda panel members are working with the government to implement deregulation measures for the ACT locally and as part of the national agenda.
The government has also ramped up its international business outreach activities with the Chief Minister’s recent participation with the Prime Minister and other state and territory leaders in Australia in China Week activities. As the Minister for Economic Development I have led delegations to South East Asia and to the United States and Singapore. In June I will be leading one of the largest ever Canberra business delegations to Singapore. I am very pleased at the very strong level of support from the Canberra Business Council and the ACT Exporters Network for that particular trade mission.
We are also very pleased with the recent launch of the Griffin accelerator, Canberra’s very own business start-up accelerator facility. It is a collaboration between several of Canberra’s innovation institutions driven by the Australian National University. It will deliver a program for entrepreneurs to validate their ideas, to develop networks and to finetune their business models. It is financially supported by some of Canberra’s leading business innovators.
We have also recently launched the Chief Minister’s export awards, and we look forward to seeing another national category winner following up on Aspen Medical’s outstanding success at the national level in 2013.
The business development strategy has also strongly signalled the importance of the digital economy to the territory in the future. (Time expired.)
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, how is Invest Canberra helping to grow the business sector in the territory?
MADAM SPEAKER: I am sorry, Mr Barr, can you hang on a second. Mr Gentleman’s first question was about the business development strategy. I am subject to correction but I do not know that I heard mention of Invest Canberra in the answer. I am not quite sure how the supplementary question relates.
MR GENTLEMAN: Madam Speaker, it is within the business strategy.
MADAM SPEAKER: Okay. Mr Barr.
MR BARR: Invest Canberra was formally launched in December 2013 as a dedicated investment promotion agency to help shape and sharpen the territory’s investment facilitation process. Invest Canberra has been building systems and capability right through the period of its formal launch last year and it is now fully operational and working to an established and clear strategy.
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