VICTORIAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Mark Stone has announced an alliance between the chamber and Benalla Business Network.

"The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is pleased to announce its alliance with the Benalla Business Network (BBN), which will be of great benefit to businesses in the Benalla region and enable the Victorian Chamber to strengthen its involvement in the area," Mr Stone said.

"The Benalla region plays an important role in Victoria’s economy, particularly through sectors including tourism, agribusiness and manufacturing.

"BBN members will have access to the benefits of Victorian Chamber Essentials membership which includes business tools and templates, business intelligence through a range of publications and discounts on Victorian Chamber networking events, consulting services and training courses.

"Victorian Chamber members in the Benalla region are encouraged to take advantage of the BBN’s membership offerings which include access to networking functions and business development workshops, as well as the opportunity for business promotion through BBN’s website and social media channels," Mr Stone said.

"The Victorian Chamber is committed to this long-term relationship that strengthens our reach in regional Victoria and provides local businesses with outstanding benefits."

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, established in 1851, is the most influential business organisation in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

victorianchamber.com.au  

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TODAY 45 young people will gather in Canberra to share their ideas, aspirations and experiences in rural and regional Australia as part of the 2016 ABC Heywire Youth Summit.

Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Anne Ruston, will recognise the outstanding entries of this year's finalists, and will present the 45 regional winners with their awards in Canberra tonight.

"These incredibly talented young people hail from every corner of the country, and each have a unique story to tell about life in rural and regional Australia—and Heywire gives them the chance to heard," Minister Ruston said.  

"The array of stories on display tonight show the breadth of issues affecting young people in regional Australia—and, not surprisingly, agriculture is a major theme.

"Agriculture is central to our nation's future and young rural Australians will play an important role in ensuring our agricultural industries have a bright and prosperous future.

"There are certainly challenges for the sector: the average age of farmers continues to rise, climate variability remains a threat to productivity and mental health, global populations and demand for food continue to rise and we need to keep producing more with less resources.

"These are all opportunities for fresh, young minds to shape the future of a sector that will continue to be a pillar of our economy for as long as humans eat food and wear clothes. 

"It's pleasing to see so many positive stories about life on the land, and this year's stories again shine a light on the beauty of life away from metropolitan centres.

"Not only does Heywire offer the opportunity to break down stereotypes of life in regional Australia, but it also gives young people who can often feel isolated the chance to contribute to a national discussion on a whole range of important topics.

"It's an incredibly important initiative, and the Coalition Government last year reaffirmed its support of Heywire, with Minister Joyce announcing grants to continue the programme for another three years, along with other funding for youth programmes in the agriculture sector.

"We are a government that is committed to revitalising the agriculture sector and driving increased returns through the farmgate to ensure it remains an attractive and rewarding career path."

For more information on ABC's Heywire initiative, visit: http://www.abc.net.au/heywire/.​

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AUSTRALIAN retailers saw a jolly Christmas last year, with Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) official retail turnover figures for December 2015 growing by four percent year on year – a figure the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has called incredibly pleasing.

This growth backs up a 4.2 percent year on year growth in November 2015, with Christmas gift buying at the heart of the boost in trade. Total retail spend for December 2015 was $24.8 billion.

Year on year figures provide the most accurate measure of the sector’s performance and are the figures used by most retail businesses in their own reporting. December 2015 sales showed no increase over November 2015, a result the ARA’s Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman has put down to soaring temperatures following the initial Boxing Day trade.

“Australian retailers will be very pleased with the annual increase in shoppers’ spend in December,” said Mr Zimmerman.

“December is the biggest month in the retail calendar in terms of sales and this considerable boost finishes off a year of strong increases for the industry.

“We’re hopeful the trend of steady growth will continue throughout 2016, with many retailers well positioned to leverage off these improvements with new innovations across online, omni-channel, and bricks and mortar stores.

“I think we’ll see 2016 become a year of business evolution for retail, with a host of digitally-based advancements enabling the merging of the online and offline shopping worlds into a more seamless experience.”

The biggest growth came out of household goods in December, with a 5.6 percent increase over December 2014, followed by department stores, with a five percent rise.

“Department stores across the board have picked up their act in the past 12 months, and I believe that’s reflected in these results,” Mr Zimmerman said.

Victoria saw the lion’s share of growth on a state basis at 5.5 percent, with Tasmania continuing its strong growth trajectory of the last few months, increasing sales by 5.2 percent.

“Even Western Australia which suffered from considerably low sentiment in the lead up to Christmas as a result of the demise of the mining boom managed growth of 1.2 percent. This is a great result for a state that has been struggling to adapt to vast economic change.”

In terms of online spend for December, the NAB Online Retail Sales Index indicates that e-commerce sales increased a whopping 11.2 percent on December 2014.

“E-commerce is a vital pillar of all retail business these days, and its double digit year on year growth is unsurprising when you look at how many retailers are now giving their customers the opportunity to shop online at their own convenience,” said Mr Zimmerman.

A total of 1$9.1 billion was spent online in 2015 according to NAB, 6.6 percent of the total retail market.

The Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan official retail spend figures for the pre-Christmas trading period from November 15 to December 25, 2015, will be available in the coming weeks.

YEAR ON YEAR RETAIL GROWTH (December 2014 to December 2015 seasonally adjusted)

By category:

Food, 3.2 percent; household goods, 5.6 percent; clothing, footwear and personal accessories, 4.5 percent; department stores, five percent; other retailing, 4.5 percent; cafés, restaurants and takeaway foods, 3.2 percent.

By state:

NSW, 4.5 percent; Victoria, 5.4 percent; Queensland, 3.1 percent; South Australia, 3.4 percent; Western Australia, 1.2 percent; Tasmania, 5.2 percent; Northern Territory, 0.8 percent; and Australian Capital Territory, 4.4 percent.

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $284 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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Mr Robb said the program would highlight benefits from the China Australia Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force on December 20 last year. It also builds on the success of the first Australia Week in China in 2014 which attracted 750 delegates.

“With two rounds of tariff cuts on Australian goods exports delivered already under the Agreement in rapid succession, and a whole range of new opportunities for Australian services, now is the time to expand existing links and explore new possibilities,” Mr Robb said.

“Registrations are now open and I urge all businesses with an interest in China to consider taking part.”

The mission includes a range of business streams including innovation, agribusiness, premium food, beverage and consumer goods, mining services and equipment, health, innovation, education, financial services and urban sustainability.

Activities include seminars and site visits to high-level meetings and networking events with senior Chinese Government officials and business leaders.

The mission aims to achieve tangible business outcomes as well as helping participants understand the changes taking place in Australia’s number-one export market.

“New ventures such as the Blackmores partnership with Bega Cheese to produce infant formula for China show how Australian businesses are already responding to new opportunities in China,” Mr Robb said.

“As our economy transitions in this post mining boom period, there is huge potential to develop similar ventures, expanding our commercial relationship with China by concentrating on the things we do well.

“Our free trade agreement provides increased market access at a time when China itself is changing, creating demand for exactly the kind of goods and services Australia can provide.”

More information: www.austrade.gov.au/awic2016 

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