Doing Businessin Australia
Australia Market Insights
Australia has one of the strongest and most open economies in the world – mature, stable and highly developed. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has created a new set of challenges for the Australian market.
Enterprise Ireland is responding to the global crisis by working with Irish exporters to help them avail of business response supports announced by the Government. These supports are designed to help businesses stabilise and adapt to the evolving situation, in preparation for getting back on the road to recovery.
Market Overview
Australia’s location on the doorstep of Asia has enabled it to take advantage of the region’s rapid economic development.
Until the Covid crisis, Australia enjoyed 28 years of economic growth, the only developed economy in the world to achieve this. The country has a strong tradition of international trade, supplying energy and mineral resources to the fast-growing Asian economies. The country’s open trade policies and skilled workforce have helped facilitate a vibrant internal economy.
€57,071 GDP per capita (2019)
1.9% GDP growth (2019)
€249m Enterprise Ireland client exports (2020)
Get Export Ready
Today, the Australian economy is the 14th largest in the world at €1.2 trillion. Australia is one of the easiest places in the world to do business, ranking 14th out of 190 economies.
It has been a pioneer of free trade and the agreements signed with China and ASEAN areas provide Irish companies operating from Australia with unprecedented access to some of the largest and fastest growing regions in the world. Australia and the EU have also agreed to begin negotiations on an EU-Australia FTA. Australia is the world’s 5th most economically free economy in the world, making it one of the most favourable in which to do business.
Key Market Sectors
As Brexit plans progress, Irish businesses are exploring export options in sectors across the Eurozone markets, the USA and Canada, and the APAC region.
Enterprise Ireland is playing a key role in supporting ambitious companies seeking opportunities in Australia’s construction, oil & gas and telecomms sectors.
Additionally, healthcare, life sciences, digital, fintech and edtech continue to perform and add appeal to Irish exporters and service providers who want to scale, and develop a presence in the Australian market.
Read more on Australia’s sectoral successes in our Going Global Guide.
- Australia has some of the world’s largest mineral reserves and is a strategic supplier to rapidly developing Asian economies like China.
- Australia has one of the most sophisticated financial services sectors. The country has deep and liquid financial markets, with over a trillion euro of fund assets under management.
- Significant infrastructural investments in telecommunications and transport infrastructure are underway by state and federal government such as the Westconnex motorway system in Sydney and the National Broadband Network.
Doing Business
Australia commands a vast expanse of territory. With a 9-hour difference in summer and 11 in winter, the vast time difference between Dublin and Sydney can make servicing the market from Ireland a challenge. Consider an Australian office allowing for a near 24-hour service offering.
Avoid visits to market from mid-December to the end of January as these are prime holiday times. Be aware the Australian financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June and therefore many key decisions are made between mid- May and mid-July.
The Australian egalitarian approach to life is reflected in its business culture and can be seen in both corporate structures and communication style. Australians can be quite direct and matter of fact in their tone and prefer it if this approach is reciprocated.
Best Routes to Market
Choosing the right route to market is very important.
Agents bring a deep understanding of local business practices and distributors can deliver products geographically across large nations. Joint ventures and acquisitions bring valuable established contacts, customers and market knowledge. Local representatives may not always be necessary with many global markets open to direct sales and prospecting from Ireland. Other markets require a ‘boots on ground’ – approach the power of referrals and networking shouldn’t be underestimated.
The key routes to market in Australia are direct sales, strategic partnerships and having a local office.
Download our Going Global Guide to Australia to find out more.
Before You Go
Before you go, we recommend you invest some time in researching the terrain before you explore the Australian market. Here’s a few starting points to consider…
- Market Landscape
- Market Trends
- Target Market
- Market Segmentation
- Market Competition
- Market Research Resources
Visa requirements, Australian labour laws, import rules and regulations, key taxes, and data and intellectual property protection are also addressed in the Going Global Guide. Enterprise Ireland’s Market Research Centre offers client companies access to market intelligence in the form of company, sector, market, and country information to explore opportunities and compete in international markets.
Helping You Succeed
We are committed to helping you succeed in global markets and have an immense wealth of knowledge and expertise in the Australian market.
Enterprise Ireland assists clients entering new markets with pre-visit support, in-market support, international trade events, additional supports and access to mentors.
Our Market Advisors are always available to support you and provide business expertise and on-the-ground knowledge.
Australia/New Zealand
David Eccles
Email
david.eccles@enterprise-ireland.com
Address
Enterprise Ireland
Level 26, 1 Market St
Sydney 2000, NSW
Australia
Telephone
00 61 (0) 2 9273 8505
Download our Going Global Guide or talk to one of our Enterprise Ireland market advisers in Australia, today. Find out how you can achieve your global ambition.
