A “Buy Queensland” business roadshow is slated to open in Bundaberg today, creating opportunities for more local businesses and establishing a wider buyer-supplier network.
Speaking at the 2022 Growing Queensland Business Roadshow, Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said the event would introduce the government’s “Buy Queensland” initiative to more small business owners.
“The new 2022 Queensland Procurement Policy reaffirms this government’s commitment to source more goods and services from small businesses and this Roadshow allows business owners to discover how they can benefit under the new policy,” the minister said.
Farmer said the government seeks for more smaller businesses to benefit from the initiative after it reached its original target of 25 per cent. The program’s target now stands at 30 per cent, which is a $300 million increase per annum.
The “Buy Queensland” approach was rolled out in 2017 and has since distributed over $75.5 billion to almost 80,000 businesses. More than $8.83 billion of the budget went to approximately 29,000 regional businesses in the state.
“Tomorrow, we have sessions dedicated to topics such as tendering tips and how to take full advantage of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games – it’s important we start preparing now.”
The Growing Queensland Business Roadshows commenced in October and are expected to visit 12 regional centres from Cairns to Toowoomba, before closing off on the Sunshine Coast by the end of November.
Energy and Procurement Minister Mick de Brenni said Palaszczuk government’s Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan and the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics would boost business in the state in a way never seen before.
Over $62 billion will be invested in the industry, with 95 per cent going towards businesses in regional Queensland.
“That’s a huge opportunity for the businesses of Bundaberg and Wide Bay to create jobs in both energy and supply to the 2032 Games across in construction, operation, manufacturing, food and beverages,” de Brenni added.
