Taking the great leap to export products or services to new and emerging markets can be daunting for many businesses, especially if they’ve focused solely on the domestic market until now.
There’s fear the new international market – whether it be China, South Korea, Indonesia or even Papua New Guinea – might not work, trade barriers to overcome, intellectual property to protect, expenses, document stamping, product promotion, finding an agent, cross-cultural negotiations, navigating red tape and other hoops to jump through.
At the South Australian Business Chamber, we’re asked for advice daily regarding exports and opportunities. Businesses constantly ask how to register trademarks, about distribution channels, translations, and where to get help regarding international social media and e‑commerce platforms.
South Australia relies on exporting; whether it be the wool from our sheep, our tuna, crayfish and oysters, our wheat and agricultural products, our wine and beverages, or education and financial services.
The more we export, the stronger our state becomes and the greater our reputation on the international stage, creating much needed flow-on effects, including tourism.Recognising our state’s strengths and responding to growing interest and demand from the business community, the South Australian Business Chamber will be hosting the inaugural International Trade Expo and Conference on October 4.
The event will precede our annual Export Awards, being presented for the 56th time.
We’re hosting ITEC because we want to make it easier for our exporters and those considering taking the leap, including providing access to trade department officials, experts in exporting fields, advisers, businesses which have tried and succeeded, and other organisations working in global markets.
It’s not often you get to listen to people such as the Alibaba Group’s Maggie Zhou talking about Chinese trade, Australia’s first Intellectual Property Counsellor to China, David Bennett, or representatives from the US, Chinese and British governments giving up-to-date information about dealing with their countries.
We’re sharing insights into global trade trends, providing updates on the international education sector, and sharing marketing success stories from businesses like Sweat – which has a worldwide social media following of more than 37 million people.
We’re holding ITEC to respond to these questions, support businesses joining the growing export industry, and to provide guidance.
But wait, that’s not all. We’re not offering a set of steak knives but, in addition to loads of useful information, we want to remind our conference and expo attendees what’s great about South Australia and the ultimate endgame, exporting excellence.
With a record number of applications, the very best of South Australia’s exporting industries will be on show at the 2018 the South Australian Business Chamber Export Awards that same evening.
Let’s celebrate those who do their best to make our state an economic success story.
Anthony Penney is the South Australian Business Chamber executive director, Industry and Government Engagement.
This article was originally published in the South Australian Business Journal on Tuesday 25 September 2018.
Image: Alibaba’s Australian managing director Maggie Zhou will be at the South Australian Business Chamber’s International Trade Expo and Conference. Picture David Geraghty / The Australian.
