1. Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation Harnessing the Digital Economy “Setting the Strategic Context” 9 December 2011 Malcolm Letts SEQ Executive Regional Director DEEDI

2. 2 © The State of Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, 2011 Economic Overview – Gold Coast Population  527,627 - June 2010  Est 788,231 by 2031  12.6% of Qld’s total pop Unemployment rate  7.4% (Qld’s rate 5.5%) Key Industries  Retail  Tourism  Construction & Manufacturing  Food  Education & Training  Marine  ICT  Health &Life Sciences

3. 3 © The State of Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, 2011 Current Challenges & Opportunities – Gold Coast Challenges: Unstable global markets & GFC ‘hangover’ Impact of high Australian Dollar Labour / skills Natural Disasters – Indirect effects on supply chains (Tourism) 2-Speed Economy Opportunities: Commonwealth Games 2018 Gold Coast Health & Knowledge Precinct Rapid Transit GC International Airport Tourism development (Nature-based & Indigenous Tourism) Innovation & Investment attraction NBN and International Underwater Cable

4. 4 © The State of Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, 2011 Strategic Projects & Planning – DEEDI Policy and Planning Co-ordination of all formal planning processes Develop & maintain regional economic profiles that identify opportunities for DEEDI involvement, industry investment, trends & economic opportunities. Provide economic analysis on potential projects of strategic importance Project Facilitation and Regional Engagement Provide strategic advice/support to a range of major project groups including: - Gold Coast Health & Knowledge Precinct - GC Waterways Steering Committee (working groups) - District Disaster Management - RDA (and other economic development agencies in the region) Facilitate economic outcomes and encourage regional collaboration between other agencies on hard and soft infrastructure requirements needed for the regional economic growth. Develop business cases that support major business attraction and investment.

5. 5 © The State of Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, 2011 Industry Development focus – DEEDI Key industry supply / value chains include: Tourism (Opportunity) Food (Opportunity) ICT & Knowledge (Enabler) Manufacturing (Enabler) Focus is two levels: Individual SME level Industry level to assist with - Industry growth addressing issues - Maximising industry competiveness - Local Industry efficiencies

6. 6 © The State of Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, 2011 Business Development programs – DEEDI Individual Business Support One-on-one assistance Service Microscopes (independent review & benchmarking process) Mentoring-4-Growth (access to panel of specialists) Jobs Assist 1 & 2 (consultancy support for financially vulnerable firms >10 FTE’s) QMI Business Productivity and Efficiency Programs Links to State and Federal Grants (for Innovation, Commercialisation & R&D) Links to Local, State & Federal Programs & Collaborations Trade and investment assistance Links to Incubators & Researchers within Universities General Business Support Range of Small Business Workshops Digital Business Webinar Series Mobile office services Strong partnerships (with local councils, chambers and government agencies) www.business.qld.gov.au

7. 7 © The State of Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, 2011 ICT (as an enabler across all industries) Our strategic plan for 2012-13 strongly reflects the benefits of ICT as an enabler to increase the capabilities across all industry sectors Opportunities:  NBN (with its increase in speed & capacity)  High Quality local ICT Companies (rapid development of innovative platforms to improve business processes)  Strong network (via the GC IT Forum) offering access to intelligence in latest technologies  Gold Coast City Council’s commitment to - Pacific Innovation Corridor - The Knowledge Precinct - Proposal to secure the International Cable and timely rollout of NBN  RDA’s willingness to collaborate on attraction of Infrastructure funding to benefit the community  Queensland State government’s commitment to enhancing all opportunities to leverage the benefits of the Digital Economy.

8. 8 © The State of Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, 2011 What can you do? Don’t wait for the arrival of NBN and expect it to automatically transform your business. The Digital Economy is already here – embrace it ! Attend the GC IT Forum events, and increase your knowledge of awareness of what is out there now Attend our DEEDI Workshops and Seminars focusing on ICT Contact our Gold Coast Regional Service Centre, ensure you are on the database to receive information & linkages that can assist you Phone: 07 5583 7599 Email: southportbn@deedi.qld.gov.au Thank you Questions??