Page 1748 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
of expertise and trusted relationships that exist within the business community has also been significant. Although it is less than a year old, there are already strong signs that the CBR Innovation Network is having a very positive effect on local enterprise.
The Griffin accelerator program, a group of seasoned local entrepreneurs that invest and guide innovative start-ups, has just closed its 2015 application round. It received 84 applications, more than double the number received in the previous round. We have also worked closely with industry and the various trade and investment missions that we have conducted internationally, including to China, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand and the United States.
We are in the final phase of developing the next stage of our business development strategy that will guide us over the next few years. We are committed to building on and utilising the innovation structures and arrangements that we have been developing over the last three years.
The next phase of the strategy will be focused on supporting activities that facilitate innovation and achieve the development potential of high growth companies through the CBR Innovation Network, promoting Canberra as a destination for investment through Invest Canberra, realising the goals of the tourism 2020 strategy, and further work to reduce red tape and business costs through the red tape reduction task force and the excellent work of Access Canberra.
The next phase of our business development strategy will facilitate government working even more closely with our research institutions, businesses and the broader community with a shared vision of optimism but one also of determination. Along with our increased industry partnerships, the government is strengthening our collaboration with regional councils to enhance economic development opportunities.
Just this Monday, the ACT government and 12 regional and New South Wales councils came together to form the single brand, the Canberra region. Regional councils that are joining the ACT government in this partnership include Young, Boorowa, Yass Valley, Harden, Goulburn Mulwaree, the Upper Lachlan, Palerang, Queanbeyan, Cooma-Monaro, Snowy River, Bombala and Eurobodalla shires.
The Canberra region brand will adopt the use of the CBR logo, which will be integrated into existing branding used by all of those local councils. The diversity of this region—coast, alpine, tablelands and Canberra city—is a major asset for the region. In marketing terms, our diversity is our unique selling point. There are few other places in Australia, or indeed the world, where you can spend the morning skiing in the mountains and then dine on oysters by the ocean in the evening.
Canberra is much stronger because of its region. As a region our population is forecast to grow to over 800,000, and up to a million people, over the next generation—within the lifetime of people in this chamber. This critical population mass can certainly be used to everyone’s economic advantage. There is no doubt that without the strength of the region we would not have been able to attract businesses like Costco and IKEA, major international players, into our region. Our region is big enough, diverse enough and powerful enough to support these sorts of global businesses.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video