Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) a successful recipient under the SME Export Hubs Initiative

18 March 2019

NERA joined the Honourable Karen Andrews MP, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, as she announced the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) as a successful recipient under the SME Export Hubs Initiative in Toowoomba, Queensland.

TSBE will receive almost $840,000 in matched funding to establish the Southern Queensland Innovation in Export Hub, centred in Toowoomba. The funding will fuel the regional economy through promoting exports and help create local employment opportunities.

Through new Export Hub, TSBE will focus on the oil, gas and energy resources sector, as well as food and agribusiness. The hub will promote a regional export culture and help local businesses build their skills and know-how to harness global opportunities.

NERA is a proud supporter of the hub and will continue to work collaboratively with TSBE to grow the global potential of Australian CSG suppliers and innovators.

NERA CEO Miranda Taylor welcomed the announcement, saying the new Export Hub will help realise the global energy potential of the Surat Basin by providing the required information, services, support and inspiration to leading Australian SME innovators who support the coal seam gas (CSG) industry.

“Today’s announcement recognises the Toowoomba and Surat region as the epicentre of Australia’s CSG industry, championed by the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise. Not only have local innovators and suppliers helped deliver the solutions required for domestic operators, they now possess world-class solutions and knowledge ready for deployment in global markets. NERA will continue to support the TSBE to deliver their Export Hub strategy and grow the global energy potential of the region.”

Australia is currently the world’s largest LNG exporter, and up to 30% of this LNG comes from CSG, centred in this region. Local SMEs that have been instrumental in achieving this world-first CSG-LNG supply chain are now poised to achieve similar success in global markets.

You can read the Minister’s media release here.

About the SME Export Hubs

The Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Export Hubs Initiative is supported by Industry Growth Centres to support the establishment of local and regional hubs to assist Australian businesses take their products and services to the global market.

The Export Hubs will provide funding to develop local, regional and indigenous brands through export hub business collaborations to deliver value and employment opportunities back to Australian communities.