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Making it easier to buy local

There are now more than 700 listings on a directory, which aims to make it easier for businesses to find local suppliers in the Moreton Bay Region.

The Moreton Bay Region Supply Chain Directory was created by Regional Development Australia Moreton Bay in mid-2019, as one of the outcomes of the export strategy it devised earlier that year.

Director Nette Griggs says it lists businesses at all stages of the supply chain and is easy to use.

“The directory is now at 701 entries. It’s a long list and I would suggest that people go onto the site and look at the categories and sub-categories. It is this structure that is one of the features making the directory easy to use,” Nette explains.

“It has been established to enable local businesses to connect with other local businesses to meet their business needs. Having said that, the directory provides good opportunities for retail customers too, enabling them to find what they need not far from home.”

Free and easy to use

Nette says it is free for businesses to be listed and for businesses to use.

“It provides dynamic information for prospective and existing exporters and major businesses as well as capability for RDA to interrogate the database to identify potential supply chain gaps to inform business attraction efforts,” she says.

This project was carried out, and is maintained as part of the RDA Moreton Bay’s core business and comes out of its general funding. It is part of the organisation’s 20/21 business plan.

“We see the growth of the Moreton Bay Region Supply Chain Directory as one of those tools provided to assist in our local recovery through this COVID recovery period because it is focused on local business and connecting businesses and customers,” Nette says.

Why this is important

Moreton Bay Region Mayor Peter Flannery said supply-chains are more important than ever in a COVID-19 impacted world.

“We need to see more manufacturing come back on-shore and into Moreton Bay specifically, where we have the industry and capability to help make Australian goods at cost-effective prices,” he said.

“The Australian government's $1.5 billion manufacturing revitalisation package will scale and capture high value areas of manufacturing and the Moreton Bay region is exceptionally placed to leverage this new program

“So I’m hoping the Prime Minister’s come to our region today with good news for Moreton Bay.

“Regional Development Australia Moreton Bay’s supply-chain directory is a really useful and practical step for companies to take when looking to sure up and connect with their supply chains.

“I encourage our local business community and companies seeking great Australian made products to give it a go.”

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