The trade potential of the NSW Northern Rivers region will be the focus of the latest State Government ASEAN Market Update for NSW Businesses series being held in the Tweed today.
The updates provide local businesses with information about trends and export opportunities across Southeast Asian markets.
Southeast Asia is the fastest growing region in the world, expected to become the world’s fourth largest economy by 2040, and NSW is uniquely positioned to grow with the region.
Southeast Asia is NSW’s second-largest trading partner, with two-way trade in goods growing by more than nine per cent in the past year. Continued rapid growth is expected in sectors where NSW businesses excel, such as food and beverages, health, and the digital economy.
Today’s session will bring together around 50 participants, including local businesses and industry groups at Husk Farm Distillery in North Tumbulgum. The local distillery has made hand-crafted rum in the region since 2012 and is an experienced exporter to Southeast Asia, having benefitted from NSW Government support, particularly in the Indonesian market.
Speakers at the forum include Southeast export experts, and NSW exporters, who have already utilised Investment NSW’s support services to build connections and drive export sales across the region.
“Exporting is crucial for the growth and resilience of NSW businesses. Higher exports lead to higher wages and more employment, driving long-term prosperity across our state. Southeast Asia is entering a golden age,” said NSW Minister for Industry and Trade, Anoulack Chanthivong.
“It is the fastest growing region in the world, with strong potential for NSW exporters in sectors like agrifood, life sciences, healthcare, and technology.
“My ASEAN Market Updates series is all about helping businesses to crack new markets and accelerate their exports with Southeast Asia, where our two-way trade is worth $33.6 billion and is continuing to grow.
“Today’s session in the Tweed follows previous market update sessions in Western Sydney and Wollongong with more locations to come.”
The ASEAN Market Updates series is supported by other initiatives led by Investment NSW to help small and medium businesses pursue international growth objectives in Southeast Asia and other important export markets around the globe.
In 2024/25, these included supporting cleantech companies to export to Malaysia and Singapore, and wine to be exported to Vietnam.
The ASEAN Market Updates series began with sessions in Western Sydney last October, and Wollongong earlier this year, with more locations to come.
For more information on how the NSW Government supports businesses to export, visit Investment NSW: https://www.investment.nsw.gov.au/export/.
