Free Trade Agreement training provider grants

  • Media release

Fourteen organisations across Australia have received grants under the Australian Government's Free Trade Agreement Training Provider Grants program, worth a total value of $1.372 million.

The recipient organisations will provide training to help small and medium businesses access Australia's ground-breaking new free trade agreements with China, Japan and Korea.

The grants cover training activities that directly educate small and medium business about how to access and use the FTAs with three of Asia's largest economies.

Australia already ships 62 per cent of our total goods exports to these three key markets, and now there is a huge opportunity to expand our trade, particularly in the services sectors.

The training will also increase businesses' understanding of the benefits of these FTAs and foster greater engagement through knowledge sharing.

Securing the free trade agreements was an important first step, the real value for Australia flows from businesses using the FTAs to increase exports into these three powerhouse economies, and that's what these grants are designed to do.

The grants program, administered by Austrade, is part of the Coalition's strategy to help businesses adapt and diversify as the economy transitions from the mining boom.

The grants are well-distributed across Australia with four national organisations, six state or territory-based organisations and four regional organisations selected to provide FTA training.

Grant recipients include industry bodies, chambers of commerce and business associations, bilateral chambers, education institutions and registered training providers.

The successful organisations will provide FTA training that covers a broad range of sectors including food and fibre, agribusiness and agriculture, professional services, education services, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and manufactured goods, marine, mining, health and aged care.

The second and final round of grants applications will open mid-2016.

The organisations that have received grants under the Australian Government's Free Trade Agreement Training Provider Grants program are:

  • Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia
  • South West Institute of TAFE
  • HunterNet Co-operative Limited
  • RMIT University
  • Business SA
  • Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise
  • Australian International Marine Export Group
  • TAFE NSW - New England Institute
  • The Australian Industry Group
  • Australia China Business Council
  • Centre for Customs and Excise Studies
  • Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Law Council of Australia
  • Australian Council for Private Education and Training

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