Page 3520 - Week 11 - Thursday, 24 September 2015
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MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Coe for his supplementary. No, I do not believe it will. I think there is opportunity for people to retire in place. We are certainly investigating many options for people to downsize. We are giving them incentive. We are reducing costs to transfer into older persons accommodation and into smaller-size accommodation and giving the option to change their housing within the suburbs they are living in at the moment so that there is the opportunity for ageing in place.
Business—support
MS FITZHARRIS: My question is to the Chief Minister and Minister for Economic Development. Minister, can you detail what the ACT government is doing to help local businesses expand into new international markets?
Members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: I have not even had a chance to call the Chief Minister yet and you have started interjecting. Just wait for it. The Chief Minister, Mr Barr.
MR BARR: Thank you Madam Speaker.
Members interjecting—
MR BARR: And on cue here come the interjections. I am very pleased to be able to advise the Assembly that the government supports local businesses to expand into new international markets through a number of avenues. Through our partnership with the Canberra Business Chamber we have developed a comprehensive range of initiatives designed to support companies to grow their export capability and performance. This approach is laid out in the government’s business development strategy, which includes an export workshop series designed to give emerging exporters the skills and knowledge they need to access international markets.
I am pleased to advise the Assembly that I will be leading a trade mission to the United States early next month. The trade mission program, which is run in conjunction with the Canberra Business Chamber, will also include a trade mission to Singapore in November 2015 and, as I have previously announced in this place, China in April 2016. The trade mission program is also supported by mission-focused workshops designed to give exporters the skills they need to operate most effectively in these markets.
The US trade mission commences in early October and will support 19 ACT businesses. The ACT government and the Canberra Business Chamber are working closely to deliver a detailed program in San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Austin, Texas. The government, through Invest Canberra, has been working closely with US-based partners to deliver a program which will provide each of the ACT businesses with a bespoke program to make new connections in the US and to expand their businesses as well as a range of business matching opportunities which will potentially provide direct customers in the US.
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