JUST how quickly our exports get back to double digit growth is one for the crystal ball watchers, but the key is that we need to do more to make sure we don’t go backwards.
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JUST how quickly our exports get back to double digit growth is one for the crystal ball watchers, but the key is that we need to do more to make sure we don’t go backwards.
That is a big issue facing the State Government, which is always looking for extra cash for its programs.
The experts reckon that commodity prices effectively go backwards by 2 per cent a year.
So to keep ahead on the resources front we have to be more productive and increase volumes.
Industrial relations, technology and investment are the keys to that.
A poor industrial relations environment endangers investment in technology and new development.
And that could mean less money for the community in the future.
A real winner
IT might have been more than three weeks since we announced our 40under40 winners, but we are not over it yet by any means.
While the planning is already underway for next year’s program, the stories keep flowing in from our winners about the reaction they’ve had from their achievement.
Not only have they buoyed those of us at Business News, but they really are worth telling, even if I keep the names to myself in the interest of confidentiality.
Those who read our souvenir edition last week will have picked up that at least one winner was contacted by Geoff Gallop.
It was not mentioned, though, that Dr Gallop’s communication was among around 100 messages this 40under40 winner received during the Thursday following the announcement, with around 70 of those by email.
At least that volume of electronic traffic didn’t crash his computer system like it did for another of our winners.
Wondering why his email was not working, this winner contacted his ISP to find out what the problem was. He was told that they had started deleting messages because the volume of messages trying to get through was overloading his system when he logged on.
Many others have told of well-wishers emerging from the ranks of long-lost school buddies or sudden recognition at business meetings, but my favourite comes from a commercial success one winner feels must have been tipped his way by the 40under40 award.
That winner was surprised to take a call a few days after the 40under40 from a buyer, telling him he had won their business, an account worth more than most people pay for a house.
When our winner informed his marketing department, they said they didn’t know he had even pitched for the business.
To which he replied that he hadn’t!