Morning Tea for the 2017 Premier of Queensland's Export Award Winners and Trade and Investment Queensland

Chief Executive Officer of Trade and Investment Queensland, Ms Virginia Greville; Queensland Trade Commissioners; Ladies and Gentlemen,

Kaye and I are delighted to welcome you to Government House for this celebration of Queensland’s highest-performing exporters and of the Trade and Investment Commissioners who support and encourage our state’s vibrant export sector.

I offer my sincere congratulations to the winners of the 2017 Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards, and to all finalists, many of whom are present today.

It takes determination, courage and fortitude to establish one’s own business – factors which are multiplied when the step is taken to enter a foreign market.

Unlike our competitors almost everywhere throughout the world, there is no convenient land border over which to quietly and inexpensively test another market.

From an island continent, to build a successful export business is a great feat and worthy of celebration.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the value of Queensland exports increased $21.9 billion to be $69.8 billion over the year to August 2017.

Not only does this mean that each of our finalists has been exceptionally successful in an exceptionally successful year, it means that in this most outward-looking of states, more and more people are engaged in building relationships with our trading partners.

Those relationships at the individual, corporate and sector level form an integral part of the fabric of Australia’s international relationships, and they spill over into social and cultural exchanges which enrich us all.

In the past 12 months I have visited Papua New Guinea, Japan and the United Kingdom and Malaysia, and next week I will go to Singapore and Israel.

A significant component of these visits is the promotion of Queensland’s trade interests, and I have been deeply impressed by the dedication and professionalism of Trade and Investment Queensland Commissioners and staff who work so hard to support our exporters.

It requires constant effort to ensure we prevail against our competitors, and that investors are aware of Queensland’s impressive opportunities, unrivalled expertise and high-quality products across major industries.

They do it very well, and I take this opportunity to commend Trade and Investment Queensland’s Commissioners for their service to the economic life of our State.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the man who built this house, Johann Heussler, was a pioneer businessman, and also served as Germany’s Consul in Australia.

It might be fanciful, but I do think he would approve of this gathering of Queensland’s finest businessmen and women, and of this House being used to celebrate the success of Queensland’s exporting businesses.

I commend you all, and wish you and your businesses every success in the future.