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The Victorian Government has a number of programs and assistance available to grow your business globally.

To find out more go here

The Governor of Victoria Export Awards (GOVEA) is the most prestigious export award in Victoria. Rewarding the state’s most successful and innovative exporters with the stamp of international success, a GOVEA gives your business recognition in local and international markets.

Now in its 38th year, GOVEA 2017 will be awarded across 12 categories, and three Victoria only awards. Winners of the 12 categories will be automatically placed as finalists in the Australian Export Awards – a national awards ceremony which will see the Victorian winners compete against other state and territory winners for the national Awards.

Applications for GOVEA 2017 open soon.

Free workshops

Winning an export award is a great achievement, but completing your application can be time-consuming.

To assist you with your application, Trade Victoria and the Export Council of Australia are conducting free workshops to:

• show you how to prepare an award-winning submission for the Governor of Victoria Export Awards
• assist you to use the awards application to review and update your export plan
• provide an opportunity to network with fellow exporters.

Don’t miss out – seating is limited and preregistration for the workshops is essential.  Go here to register

In less than six weeks, changes to the screening of US-bound air cargo will impact your US export business.

After 1 July 2017, you will be unable to export to the US by air unless you comply with US air cargo screening requirements that require strict 100 per cent piece-level screening.

While these requirements are imposed by the US Government, it is your responsibility to check what impact the changes will have on your business. Many of businesses have already secured their export arrangements. Are you ready?

The Australian Government’s Office of Transport Security has worked with many of you to ensure a smooth transition, but to avoid increased costs, delays and red tape, you should understand these changes and what you need to do to comply before 1 July.

You have two options for meeting these requirements. You can use an Australian Government-approved freight agent who can examine your US-bound air cargo (a list of Regulated Air Cargo Agents is available here).

There is also the option of being approved as a Known Consignor, which allows you to secure air cargo at your business.

A range of businesses have already become Known Consignors and a number of other businesses have started the process of becoming a Known Consignor to secure their US-bound air cargo business. Click here to begin the process of being approved as a Known Consignor.

More information including responses to Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the Department’s website here or you can contact aircargosecurity@infrastructure.gov.au or ring the Office of Transport Security Guidance Centre on 1300 791 581 between 9 am and 5 pm on weekdays.

Applications for this years Governor of Victoria Export awards will open shortly.

To help businesses put their best foot forward, the Vic government is working with the Export Council of Australia to deliver a schedule of workshops to help businesses with their applications. These workshops will run in and around Melbourne and regional Victoria over the course of the next month. They will run workshops in Melbourne, Dandenong and Bundoora, Ballarat and Geelong as well as offering a webinar style event. A full listing of all workshops and locations (as well as registration links) can be found here:

www.trade.vic.,gov.au/awards