Export Accelerator Program

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (14:22): My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. Can the minister please provide an update on the South Australian Export Accelerator grant program?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade and Investment) (14:22): I thank the honourable member for her ongoing interest in South Australian exports. The South Australian Export Accelerator Program was established by the Marshall Liberal government in 2019 to support small to medium-sized businesses that are looking to grow into international markets. The program assists exporters across three tiers—emerging, current and mature exporters—with grants of up to $30,000.

Since my department launched the program, 86 local businesses have been awarded some $1.83 million in grants to help with export initiatives. These businesses have been across a broad range of sectors, including the key sectors of food, wine and agribusiness; creative industries; high tech; health and medical industries; and education. As well as helping businesses enter new markets, this funding helps businesses to grow their workforce and creates pathways for local companies to generate two-way trade opportunities.

Today, I am pleased to announce the grant recipients for round 6 of the Export Accelerator Program. More than $113,000 has been provided to six South Australian companies. One of these companies is in the Barossa Valley, the winery Moorooroo Park Vineyards. Moorooroo Park Vineyards will use the grant to support the winery's expansion into new and existing markets that have been impacted by COVID-19. Moorooroo Park Vineyards currently exports to China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the USA, Canada, Europe and Russia.

Competition is fiercer than ever, and the Export Accelerator funding will help Moorooroo Estate continue to engage with customers in these key markets, as well as explore new opportunities in emerging markets. The five other companies that have received funding include:

FCT ACTech, which manufactures a mineral analyser to control large-scale manufacturing processes that have applications across mining and cement production;

Fivecast, which is an anti-terrorism and defence-focused data analytics company;

Oliver's Taranga Vineyards, a sixth generation, family-owned winery based in McLaren Vale;

Purple Hands Wines, a James Halliday five-star rated boutique winery situated in the Barossa Valley; and finally

Verseng Group, an engineering and precision manufacturing company that designs and creates components for defence, mining, marine, heavy industrial and agricultural markets.

The South Australian exporter program is just one of the ways we are helping our local exporters drive business growth through international markets. Round 7 of the South Australian Export Accelerator opens on 6 July and closes on 14 August, and I encourage all businesses that are ready to begin exporting to contact the Department for Trade and Investment or head to the website. Together we can come back stronger than before.