Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt has officially opened the Mackay, Isaac, Whitsunday METS SME Export Hub.

Part of Resource Industry Network, the hub was established last year as a result of funding from the Australian Government’s SME Export Hub Initiative, the Queensland Government, and the Local Buying Foundation.

It is tasked with identifying, establishing, and driving opportunities in the export space for businesses in the MIW region, according to Export Hub manager Dean Kirkwood.

Mr Kirkwood said the role of the Export Hub was to market the MIW region’s METS sector to the world, and support the region’s METS businesses to grow and diversify through export.

“The Export Hub will promote our world-class METS businesses and the proven innovative best practice technologies that they generate. Supporting these METS businesses is another role of the Export Hub. By providing the tools to become export ready, we aim to bring the world to our doorstep.

“While today is our official opening, many activities have already commenced including Export Ready courses, undertaking capability mapping and supply chain analysis, analysing international markets in an effort to produce a Regional Export Marketing Strategy, and identifying gaps that businesses need to fill within these markets.”