Mayor welcomes Deputy Premier's TIQ announcement

Published on 08 June 2016

Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Margaret Strelow has enthusiastically welcomed the Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Jackie Trad’s announcement that Trade Investment Queensland (TIQ) will open a new office in China and Singapore in the near future.

"This is very exciting news ahead of the upcoming budget, and we see this as a significant opportunity that our Region can leverage from." Mayor Strelow said.  

"The announcement dovetails with a collaborative conversation taking place in the Rockhampton community about ways in which we can capitalise and add value to the expansion of the military agreement with the Singapore Government.

"Council, CQUniversity and the Capricorn Chamber of Commerce have prepared a request for funding in light of both recent announcements looking for a $1.175 million support package to allow us to position ourselves to take best advantage of the announcement."

With the recent Federal announcement expanding the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), the accompanying increase in Singaporean troops training in Queensland from 6,000 to 14,000 per year over 25 years, and $1 billion in supportive infrastructure for Shoalwater Bay, Mayor Strelow said a TIQ branch in Singapore will help cement the Region's opportunities.

"These announcements place the region, which is significantly impacted by the downturn in the mining sector, in an outstanding position to realise many of the initiatives in the joint funding request," she said.

"Having visited Singapore with Jackie Trad late last year to meet with businesses and investors, I am very proud to see such great advancements made in such a short time."

The new trade offices are expected to expand Queensland’s international footprint to 15 locations in 12 different markets.