QUEENSLAND Premier and trade minister Annastacia Palaszczuk has visited a business in Cairns to highlight the role of exports in the state’s economy.
Ms Palaszczuk visited the premises of Norweld, a business that manufactures ute trays and aluminium canopies.
The Premier said the unemployment rate in Cairns was now at 4.8% compared to 6.2% a year ago and youth unemployment had dropped by 5.4 percentage points over the same period.
Norweld began exporting three years ago and is now doing business with the US, the Middle East, Africa and New Zealand with export volume doubling year-on-year.
“This is another Cairns success story,” the Premier said.
“Norweld is employing local workers and exporting its product to the world.
“Their workforce in Cairns is 45 people including 10 apprentices who are learning the skills they will now have for life,” she said.
According to ABS figures provided by the Premier’s office, trade figures showed the value of Queensland exports rose 18.4% to $84.3bn for the 12 months to March 2019.
“Exports support one in five Queensland jobs,” the Premier said.
“Increased trade in goods and services are predicted to be a key driver of economic growth in the next few years.”
