Gone Global

This blog charts the global waters, examining opportunities for importers and exporters and born-globals. Lead writer Tim Harcourt is the chief economist of the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade). He was previously an economist/industrial advocate with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, the Reserve Bank of Australia and the ACTU.

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Australian export winners are also leading job creators

Author: Tim Harcourt on 7 December 2010

Why always talk about exports, exports and exports? Because they mean jobs, job, jobs. Australia has one of the strongest economies in the OECD, in terms of job creation – and our commitment to trade liberalisation has been a key factor in this success.

Your form guide for export success

Author: Tim Harcourt on 2 November 2010

When you are punting on this year’s Melbourne Cup, have a bit of sympathy for Australia’s 44,000 exporters who have to make their big bets on international markets. Like a good punter Australian exporters have to look at the horse, the jockey, the state of the track, and of course, the odds.

Aussie Rules goes global

Author: Tim Harcourt on 24 September 2010

Tomorrow is the last Saturday in the season and all eyes will be on the 'G' (the Melbourne Cricket Ground, MCG, and the 'Mecca' of Aussie Rules football). Of course there will be a big crowd, of 100,000-plus to see a replay of the epic battle of 1966, when St Kilda snatched its only flag by one point over Collingwood.

A tale of two conferences

Author: Tim Harcourt on 13 September 2010

At Indaba in Cape Town, one of the world's largest mining conferences, I met an unusual delegate. Amidst all the mining executives, engineers and government representatives discussing the resources industry, there was Darren Beazley, an executive with the AFL's Fremantle Dockers.

ANZAC partners take the next step trade-wise

Author: Tim Harcourt on 27 April 2010

I have just been in New Zealand and let's face it, we Aussies can sometimes get a bit of a hard time there unless we can demonstrate some sort of Kiwi connection.

The green and gold

Author: Tim Harcourt on 19 April 2010

Imagine a country that is inward looking and rarely notices the world beyond its own borders. There's double-digit inflation and unemployment and a poor record of economic growth. Workers and their bosses are at each other's throats, the country leads the world for working days lost due to industrial disputes and productivity and how to improve it is rarely talked about.

Australian business: where the bolly hell are you?

Author: Tim Harcourt on 22 March 2010

It really is going to be an Indian summer for Australian exporters and investors with Australia's expanded commitment to the sub-continent. The Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean has just announced an extension of Australia's diplomatic and commercial resources in India.

Your friendly neighbourhood trade agreement

Author: Tim Harcourt on 15 March 2010

In financial circles, you hear a lot of talk about 'China and India' - or even sometimes 'Chindia' – to describe the rising economic superpowers of emerging Asia. This is particularly important in Australia, where China and India have moved up the ranks quickly, as leading export destinations for Australia.

End of the tyranny of distance?

Author: Tim Harcourt on 8 March 2010

For me, it all started with yabbies. When I first joined the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) I met a remarkable woman called Mary Nenke, from the wheat belt town of Western Australia.

My big fat Greek debt

Author: Tim Harcourt on 22 February 2010

In early 2010, markets have been spooked by the Greek debt crisis. This is affecting central bankers and policy makers, who have just got over the stress of the global financial crisis and the impact on the world's global financial institutions.