Business bulletin: 27 May 2021

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade is supporting Territory businesses by promoting the region as an investment destination to international markets.

Looking further afield than the Territory’s position as the gateway to Asia, the department is seeking to strengthen trade links with Europe.

Senior department figures in Darwin and Alice Springs presented investment opportunities to a 14-nation strong delegation representing European Union countries.

The delegates received briefings on resources, energy, agribusiness, defence, tourism, international education and innovation as part of a five day visit.

Major Territory projects and future investment opportunities were also pitched to the delegates during their time in Darwin. The EU representatives also had the chance to experience the Territory’s unique culture and hospitality during their time in Alice Springs.

The department’s Chief Executive Officer, Shaun Drabsch, says the Territory is trading on its reputation as a region rich in diverse investment opportunities to encourage interest from Europe.

He says while international borders are closed to travellers, it’s important to lay the groundwork for the return of tourists and entice businesses to take part in the Territory’s exciting major projects.

Delegates travelling to Central Australia will tour the Desert Knowledge Precinct, Purple House, art galleries, Undoolya Station and Alice Springs School of the Air to discover how local businesses are developing innovative techniques and equipment to meet the needs of their customers.

An $8 million diagnostics laboratory built in Darwin will support market access for Territory agriculture products, increase Australia’s biosecurity diagnostic capacity, help attract more world-class scientists to the Territory and enable the Northern Territory to bid for critical research projects.

The laboratory, which is part of a $44 million upgrade of the Berrimah Farm Science Precinct, will have biosecurity containment level 3 capacity and will be the only one of its kind in Northern Australia.

This will enable the Northern Territory to undertake highly specialist research, and development and diagnostic activities, which will ultimately benefit our agriculture industries through improved biosecurity responsiveness and preparedness.

Lorraine Corowa, Senior Executive Director Biosecurity and Animal Welfare with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, says: “We’ve got great people working in good facilities, but the new laboratory precinct will make work more efficient and effective, and will enable our scientists to pursue the highest quality research.

“These facilities will provide our researchers with the infrastructure and facilities to undertake cutting-edge research, positioning the Territory to attract more funding and continue to build our reputation as leaders in the northern Australian agricultural research.

“We want to attract more world-class scientists and to do that we need world-class labs. We want the brightest and best to work here. To realise the economic potential of agriculture in the Territory, we need them.

The Berrimah Farm upgrade includes three new buildings – the Field Services Laboratory, which has been specifically designed to support work focused on agricultural production, the Molecular Laboratory, which will provide world-class diagnostics for animal and plant diseases, and the Science Services Building, which will support pest management, biosecurity and market access.

Local hospitality and tourism employers are participating in a Territory wide careers fair to find workers that can fill a wide range of roles.

The Northern Territory Government is holding a Hospitality and Tourism Career Fair event in each major centre between May and June 2021.

The career fair is an opportunity for jobseekers to meet with potential employers and find out more about job opportunities, apprentices and traineeship within the industry.

Jobseekers are encouraged to bring along their resume as there may be prospective employers who will hire on the spot.

Jobseekers can view a range of hospitality and tourism job vacancies on the Territory Jobs Board.

Hospitality and Tourism businesses are encouraged to post their vacancies for free on the Territory Jobs Board.

Free and low cost training courses are also available at a number of locations and on the Northern Territory Government website.

The Hospitality and Tourism Careers Fair is part of the Work Stay Play initiative to boost skills and job opportunities for Territorians, and attract additional workers to the Territory.

The first fair kicked off in Alice Springs earlier this week with around 50 jobseekers and employers attending.

Register for the Hospitality and Tourism Career Fair in your area.

Tennant Creek

Monday 31 May, 12 noon to 1.30pm
Tennant Creek Training Centre, 65 Staunton Street

Register

Katherine

Tuesday 1 June, 3pm to 5pm
Katherine Training Centre, 19 Second Street

Register

Darwin

Thursday 3 June, 4.30pm to 6.30pm
CDU Waterfront, Level 5, 21 Kitchener Drive

Register

Nhulunbuy

Thursday 10 June
Location to be advised

Register

Territory businesses with leading-edge products, services and technology are being showcased in the Australian Defence Sales Catalogue.

The catalogue highlights the high end capability we have in the Territory to Australia’s overseas counterparts.

The 2021 Australian Defence Sales Catalogue is aimed at boosting sales and business activity and also supports the development of foreign industries to support Allied Forces.

This year’s catalogue features 15 Territory businesses who have niche capability to support local, interstate and international Defence units.

Australian Defence Force units based in the Northern Territory are keen to learn more about local capabilities and trial new innovations which have the potential to improve Defence operations.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade says the inclusion of the Territory businesses in the catalogue was a real coup that helped boost the businesses’ credibility.

The Northern Territory businesses listed in the catalogue are:

1. SPEE3D
2. Advanced Manufacturing Alliance
3. Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage
4. NT Port and Marine
5. Tufwrap
6. Griffin Marine Services
7. Universal Site Monitoring
8. M4 Medical
9. Aspire Wellness
10. Performance Lubricants Australia (Uniglide)
11. ERGT
12. Life h2o
13. Custom Works
14. Norship
15. VTG Waste.

A copy of the catalogue can be found on the Australian Government Department of Defence website.

As the Territory’s peak tourist season heats up, local business have an exciting opportunity to reach new markets and operate mobile food vans at one of the most beautiful parks in the world.

The Department of Environments, Parks and Water Security is calling for expressions of interest (EOI) to run food / coffee vans at the spectacular Alice Springs Desert Park during peak season.

Dr Aggie Wegner, Senior Director Commercial and Community Partnerships, Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security said “the department recognises the positive role commercial mobile food/coffee vans have in improving the experience of visitors to the Territory’s parks.”

“Locals and visitors have embraced mobile food and coffee vans as they provide another fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors, climate and open spaces.

“We look forward to working with businesses to make the most of this exciting opportunity.”

This six month EOI has been created following extensive interest from vendors following their success at Parrtjima Festival and the attraction of food vans in other jurisdictions.

The EOI will be open until 30 May 2021.

To find out more, go to the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security website.