About 60 business leaders from across the Sunshine Coast today (Wednesday) met for the second Business Leaders Round Table.
Mayor Mark Jamieson addressed the forum to bring the audience up to date on council’s actions since the first round table held in 2012 to strengthen business confidence and the regional economy.
The Round Table also provided the opportunity for some of the region’s business leaders to provide feedback on the Draft Economic Development Strategy which is currently available for community feedback.
“We are working on a number of fronts to make it easier to do business on the Coast and send a clearer message to potential investors about the abundant opportunities in this region,” he said.
“Council has already moved to address some of the hurdles to doing business on the Coast, identified infrastructure opportunities, encouraged digital infrastructure improvements and is working to ensure we are getting the message across to our young people about the future education, training and career prospects for our children here in the region.”
Delegates workshopped some of the proposed actions in the Draft Economic Development Strategy that will help shape the region from being more than a fantastic holiday destination, into a place to do serious business.
“Responses from delegates today will help to inform the final version of the Strategy,” Mayor Jamieson said.
He said that a new era of collaboration between council, business and industry was emerging as all groups work together to transform the Coast economy.
“This is an opportunity to galvanise collective action towards common objectives,” he said.
“Importantly however, delegates were not focused on the past – they are all looking to the future”.
“In effect: we are moving to speak of one plan, with one voice.”