Business bulletin: 26 June 2025

Choice, connectivity, and competition within the Northern Territory’s (NT) aviation sector continues to grow with 2 new direct services, Darwin to Kuala Lumpur and Darwin to the Gold Coast commencing.

AirAsia service from Darwin to Kuala Lumpur connects the Territory to one of Southeast Asia’s major aviation hubs.

This new service will support the growth of the Territory economy through tourism, trade and investment opportunities and enhance people to people ties.

AirAsia will operate 4 return flights each week, offering Territorians affordable access to Kuala Lumpur and seamless onward connections to over 130 destinations across the AirAsia network.

Dato’ Captain Fareh Mazputra, CEO of AirAsia Malaysia, said the Darwin service adds to the airline’s growing Australian network and marks a new chapter for regional tourism.

“We’re thrilled to provide this connectivity between NT and Kuala Lumpur. This route offers the only direct, affordable link between Darwin and Kuala Lumpur, and serves as a gateway to our broader network across Asia," he said.

Domestically, Jetstar’s new direct Darwin to Gold Coast service provides Territorians with more affordable and direct access to holiday, visit family or do business down south.

The Gold Coast-Darwin route will operate 4 times a week, providing over 25,000 low fare seats annually from June to October 2025.

Rob Porter, Executive General Manager Operations, Airport Development Group said, “This service is the result of a strong partnership between the Northern Territory Government and Jetstar and reflects our shared commitment to growing sustainable air connectivity and unlocking tourism opportunities for the Top End.”

“We’re proud to work together to ensure the Territory is more connected, more accessible, and more visible to the rest of the country.”

Both new routes are supported by the Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme.

The Northern Territory Government is on the lookout for a Territory Procurement Champion to support businesses to grow.

This key position will play a vital role with responsibility for the arm’s length handling of complaints and to engage businesses and government to drive more local procurement.

A key function of the Territory Procurement Champion role is engagement with and upskilling of local business across the Northern Territory.

The Territory Procurement Champion will be required to develop and deliver a local business engagement strategy as part of the role. Respondents are required to provide a high-level proposal for their local business engagement strategy as part of their expression of interest response.

From 1 July 2025, the Buy local Industry Advocate (BILA) contract will come to a natural end coinciding with the retirement of current BLIA, Mr Denys Stedman.

With the cessation of the BLIA role, a new Territory Procurement Champion position will be responsible for the arm’s length handling of complaints and to engage businesses and government to drive more local procurement. An expression of interest process is in place from 23 June 2025 to 14 July 2025. As the Territory Procurement Champion, you will:

• engage with government and local businesses to identify barriers to participation and promote supplier development
• investigate and help resolve government procurement-related complaints raised by businesses, suppliers, and government
• engage with local industry to identify barriers to participation and promote supplier development
• champion improvements by advising on procurement policies, practices, and capability-building initiatives
• provide advice on systemic issues and emerging trends.

Expressions of interest close COB Monday 14 July 2025.

For more information on Territory Procurement Champion expression of interest.

The Territory’s fashion, food and films are currently being showcased on the world stage and now, there is an opportunity for more Territory businesses to make their mark at World Expo Osaka 2025.

The Northern Territory Government will lead a trade development and investment delegation to World Expo Osaka 2025 in September.

There are more than 150 countries participating in the World Expo and with 28 million people expected to visit until 13 October 2025.

Joining the Northern Territory Government’s trade mission to the World Expo offers an exceptional opportunity for Territory businesses to showcase their products and services to the Northern Territory’s largest export market, Japan and to the rest of the world.

Territory businesses making their mark at the World Expo include:

• Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation designers and models showcasing the latest Australian Indigenous fashion.
• Hunter&Co Designs wearable art on display at the Australian Pavilion.
• Humpty Doo Barramundi supplying ‘Territory barra’ for classic ‘fish and chips’ and VIP dining experiences.
• Alice Springs cinematographer, Chris Tangey’s Australian and Territory inspired films showcased on a 12-metre screen at the Australian Pavilion.

Expressions of interest are now open for Territory businesses seeking to export, form partnerships and make in-market connections in Japan and Asian markets.

Program highlights include:

• Team Territory arrival briefing
• Complementary full day access pass to attend the Expo
• Exclusive Taste of the Territory Rooftop BBQ, held at the Australian Pavilion
• Australia’s Northern Territory – globally significant gas resources set to drive cleaner energy production luncheon

Businesses can register their interest for World Expo 2025 Osaka.

To register, go to Event Industry NT website.

Local businesses can now access free or low-cost training under the Territory government’s Flexible Skills and Training Response program to increase their profitability and performance.

Adequately trained staff are essential for businesses success however, many Territory businesses face barriers to access training such as eligibility requirements, cost to attend training, or impractical delivery times of the training.

The Flexible Skills and Training Response program is targeted to overcome these barriers by delivering affordable training to businesses that caters to their circumstances.

The program includes a series of face-to-face workshops designed to address priority skills development and training needs for Small to Medium Enterprises in the Territory.

There are 7 providers registered under the Flexible Skills and Training Response program who will deliver a range of topics including:

• financial literacy,
• de-escalation training,
• crime prevention through environmental design,
• ICT system training,
• tender writing,
• procurement skills.

Darwin based provider Captovate will be deliver workshops on AI and Automation for small businesses.

Captovate Managing Director, Michael Hawkes said, “this program directly responds to what Territory businesses are telling us they need.

“We understand that the world of AI can feel overwhelming for many. Our aim through these workshops is to demystify AI and empower local businesses to innovate, stay competitive and lead the way in a rapidly evolving digital economy.”

Workshops are targeted to business owners and senior managers of SME’s based in the Territory.

The training providers will deliver workshops in every city centre and a number of remote communities across the Territory over the next 6-12 months.

For more information or to attend a training session in your region, go to Business Territory website.

Territory businesses in the maritime, defence or advanced manufacturing sectors looking to expand their networks and showcase their capabilities on a national stage are being sought for the NT industry delegation to Indo Pacific 2025 (Indo Pacific).

The Indo Pacific is the regions premier commercial maritime and naval defence expo. The three-day event connects Australian and international defence, industry, government leaders together to contribute to maritime security across our region.

DefenceNT will lead an industry delegation to Indo Pacific 2025 to promote the Northern Territory’s industry capability, infrastructure projects and investment opportunities.

Delegates will have access to a promotional pod or workspace within the DefenceNT display while at Indo Pacific as well as networking and learning opportunities ahead of the main expo.

At the event there will be business-to-business delegation engagement programs, daily networking events and functions and showcases of emerging maritime technology and capability solutions.

Businesses wanting to participate in the delegation can now submit an expression of interest (EOI) to DefenceNT. To submit the EOI, go to Have Your Say website.

The EOI is a competitive process, applications close on 16 June 2025.

Indo Pacific will be held in Sydney 4-6 November 2025.

For more information, go to Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition website.