Brisbane 25 October 2013. Treasurer and Minister for Trade Tim Nicholls today paid tribute to winners of the Premier’s 2013 Export Awards with a visit to Cook Medical Australia.

Mr Nicholls said Cook Medical Australia received the award for Health and Biotechnology at a special ceremony in Brisbane last night.

“Also a finalist in the Manufacturing category, Cook Medical has gone from strength to strength as it manufactures medical devices and exports them around the world,” Mr Nicholls said.

“Cook Medical is proof manufacturing businesses can flourish if they are innovative and responsive to market demands.”  

Cook Medical Australia Managing Director Barry Thomas said the perception that manufacturing was dying couldn’t be further from the truth.

“In the current debate, there is next to no mention of the new markets that are on their way up and giving Australia a reputation as a world leader in that field. The medical devices industry is a great example of this,” Mr Thomas said.

Member for Stretton Freya Ostapovitch congratulated Cook Medical on its well-deserved win.

“Since the company started in 1963, Cook Medical has put patient outcomes first,” Ms Ostapovitch said.

“Dedicated research, development and clinical teams continuously work to produce new products that will positively impact patients’ lives.”

Mr Nicholls said Queensland exporters, including some of whom won Premier’s Export Awards in 2012, last year took out five of the 13 categories at the Prime Minister’s Export Awards, including Australian Exporter of the Year.

“I wish all the winners of this year’s Premier’s Export Awards the best of luck for the national competition,” he said.

“Total goods exports by Queensland businesses were worth $56.7 billion to the State’s economy in 2012-13 – that’s more than $12,200 for every man, woman and child.

“Our policies to reduce red tape, speed up approvals and maintain the State’s competitive tax status are giving local businesses confidence and attracting more to Queensland.”

Further information about why Queensland is a great place to invest, employ and grow can be found at www.business.qld.gov.au/grow