Telstra and Austrade partner to bring local SMBs to China

Dubbed “Win Business Gold in China”, the program aims to connect Australian SMBs with emerging opportunities through Austrade's China network of 15 offices and 90 staff across China and Hong Kong.

Twelve SMBs will be chosen to participate in the program, for which entries will close on May 25.

Participating businesses will travel to China to attend a series of networking events and educational seminars with Austrade's China market experts.

Participants will be selected by a panel of judges comprised of senior Telstra Business and Austrade representatives.

Telstra Business Group Managing Director, Deena Shiff, said facilitating business opportunities for Australian small to medium enterprises, including international trade, ranked high on the priorities of Telstra.

“China is an emerging market with massive potential for Australian SME exporters and Telstra would like to help them reach this exciting new market,” she said.

“Telstra understands that while many small and medium businesses see great opportunities in China they cannot successfully operate in this market without the help of expert information and business contacts.”

China’s booming economy has created a huge potential market for Australian SMBs in recent years.

In 2007, China became Australia's largest merchandise trading partner, with two way trade in goods reaching $52.7 billion.

“China is now in the top four - after New Zealand, USA and the UK - as a destination for exporting SMEs,” Austrade CEO Peter O'Byrne said.

“More than 4,200 Australian businesses now export goods to China and there are over 3,000 Australian businesses with a presence there,” he said.

More information is available from the program’s Web site.

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