Townsville to be home for new Trade and Investment Queensland office

The Palaszczuk Government’s global business agency, Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), will open a new Townsville office to provide further support for economic growth in North Queensland.

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Curtis Pitt made the announcement at the regional launch of the Palaszczuk Government’s Advancing Trade and Investment – Queensland Trade and Investment Strategy 2017-2022. 

“TIQ is currently looking at commercial spaces in Townsville for its new office which will open in coming months,” Mr Pitt said. 

“The new office will be supported by six full-time staff, including a director who will focus on North Queensland and an officer dedicated to international education and training activities.  

“As the largest city in Northern Australia, Townsville was a strategic and central choice for the new office as the trade hub in North Queensland. 

“I’m excited that there will be a dedicated TIQ presence in Townsville to support North Queensland businesses to get export ready, identify new international investment opportunities and undertake foreign trade transactions. 

“TIQ is currently looking for a prominent office location for the Townsville headquarters which will ideally be co-located with other key government departments and agencies that have objectives in common with TIQ.

“Townsville’s proximity to the Asia-Pacific, maritime approaches, communication lines, major defence establishments and aviation capabilities are all strategic reasons to make it the regional hub. 

“This opening is about ensuring our people and resources are used as effectively and efficiently as possible to support economic growth across Queensland, help regional small to medium businesses to become export-ready, and promote investment opportunities. 

“Those activities are also the best way to increase high-quality jobs in Townsville and our other regions that are all working hard to improve the economy.” 

Local MPs have welcomed the new strategy and expansion of TIQ’s presence. 

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland, Coralee O’Rourke, said it further highlighted the Palaszczuk Government’s regional focus in its economic plan. 

“We promised we would create jobs and boost regional economies and we know that trade and investment are key to unlocking our region’s full potential,” Ms O’Rourke said. 

“The new strategy and a boosted government trade presence in our city will deliver more opportunities for business operators and exporters as well as underpin new jobs.” 

Member for Townsville, Scott Stewart, said the news showed the benefits of the Palaszczuk Government’s economic plan to transition the state to a post-mining boom economy. 

“Everyone knew the highs of the upfront investment in resources projects would taper off, yet the former LNP government and Tim Nicholls as Treasurer did nothing,” Mr Stewart said. 

“They sat on their hands then, and they are still too lazy to develop any coherent economic policies or plan.” 

Member for Thuringowa, Aaron Harper, said businesses throughout the region would benefit. 

“By their very nature, export industries have significant supply chains,” he said. 

“That means more exports will deliver more opportunities and more jobs right along that supply chain and right across our region. 

“We will also ultimately see wider business and employment opportunities in areas such as logistics and maintenance.”